• Tips and Tricks ,
• 27 Aug

Ever feel like your office is sucking the life out of you? Well it may be! Lighting affects productivity and we are here to tell you the hows, whys, and what you can do about it.

Productivity is everything and being happy is, or should be, important to everyone. If you are lucky enough to have natural sunlight to as your light source, good for you. Consider yourself lucky because for many of us cubicle hamsters only get indirect sunlight at best. Most of the time we are stuck in Fluorescent tube lit boxes with more deadlines than high fives.

Here is a fun list of negative effects.

• Endocrine disruption and poor immune systems
• Eye strain
• Can’t sleep due to melatonin suppression
• MIGRAINES
• Female hormone and menstrual cycle disruption
• Depression
• Increases rates of breast cancer and tumor formation
• Stress and Anxiety due to cortisol suppression
• Anxiety

Ok, maybe not so fun. Now I’m not a scientist that studies these things in depth enough to publish in the New England Journal of Medicine but you don’t have to work long in these environments to feel the drain. And before manufacturers like GE want to come after me, they have done a better job at building these lights with less flicker and negatives.

There are some half-truths with some of these allegations against fluorescent lighting. For instance, it hasn’t been directly proven that the unnoticed and excited flicker of fluorescents actually cause migraines but people that are sensitive can be pushed over that threshold. Also, other factors like air conditioning drying the air out, poor air circulation, and other environmental factors will contribute to your comfort. Our bodies own internal what-have-yous also need to be taken into consideration. Are you eating healthy, getting enough sleep, exercising, over-worked?  and

So what can you do?

Well, open the blinds! Ask to be moved, get maintenance to take that bulb out above your desk. Get some office plants, turn down the artificial lighting and watch your computer screen brighten. You can add fluorescent light filters, try to telework, get anti-glare filters for your computer screen, or switch to crystal display monitor that has a better refresh rate. There are a lot of options and being positive about change helps give your requests credibility.

Maybe it’s a combination of sound, ergonomic factors and really anything that bothers you.  The important part is to be aware of these things. Make an effort to improve your work station. You will be happier.