How light can make you more productive

Image credit: Start Up Stock Photos from Pixabay

When looking for ways to be more productive, light might not be your first thought. You might think about keeping a tidy desk or turning off social media. But those two examples are about breaking habits—light is about changing your brain scientifically.

All living beings need light. Famously, plants need light to grow. Think of yourself like a houseplant—if you put a houseplant in a dark corner, it’s going to struggle to carry out its job (i.e., growing new leaves). However, if you move it to a sunny spot on the windowsill, it will perform its job better than ever.

You are just the same. If you are in a dingy, dark corner of an office, you won’t carry your job out right either. But with the right kind of lighting, you will find you are more productive than ever.

But what kind of light is perfect for productivity? And how can you use it to your advantage?
 
Bright Light
Bright light is great for productivity because it wakes you up. The scientific journal Sleep published a study that found workers who were exposed to well-lit areas in the daytime were less likely to feel sleepy in the daytime. 

A different study found that workers exposed to dim light felt their moods were at their lowest.
 
So, if your productivity suffers because you get tired when working, try out some bright lights to keep you awake. With that feeling of fresh brightness, you should find your focus returns, and you can be more productive.

Changing out a bulb at your home office should be no problem, but if you hope to relight an entire office, you might want to call a local electrician. 
 
Natural Light
Natural light is another type of light that can boost productivity. Similar to bright light, natural light keeps you more alert during the day. Because of this, you tend to sleep better at night and come back to work the next day refreshed.

​Natural light has a few benefits over bright light too. Having natural light is proven to benefit your mental health. Several mental health issues are linked to disruptions in your circadian rhythm. Problems like depression, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder are all related to not getting enough natural light. Although bright light might keep you awake, you might find your productivity decreases due to poor mental health if you aren’t getting enough natural light.

Image credit: Joshua Woroniecki from Pexels

Coloured lighting
Did you know that certain colours can affect your productivity? Well, they can. 

Cool tones like blues and greens can improve focus and efficiency, while warm tones like red and orange inspire passion. If you want to feel more energetic and refreshed, yellow lighting is perfect.

Installing some LED colour-changing light strips around your work area can help you get into the right mindset for the project you are working on. Once you’re in the right headspace, your productivity should significantly improve.

Plus, when Christmas comes around, you’ll already be set up with flashing lights!