Does Lighting affect Wellbeing and Health?
Lighting can have a huge impact on our health and wellbeing. It can affect our sleeping pattern, mood, wellbeing and productivity. Poor lighting can also cause physical health issues, such as eye strain and migraines.
In this article, we’re looking at the important ways lighting can affect employee wellbeing and health. Today, we spend an increasing percentage of our time indoors. This is especially true for office workers that work in spaces with little or no access to windows and natural light.
Circadian rhythm
When it comes to creating an environment that is wellbeing-enhancing, light levels are an important consideration. A dark and dingy environment is not only uncomfortable and makes visibility poorer, but it also creates feelings of lethargy. Low light levels have a physical, biological impact. The human body operates on a day and night circadian rhythm. This correlates to when we’re awake and asleep.
Darker environments trigger production of ‘sleep hormone’
Light levels activate the release of different hormones within the body. Darker environments trigger the production of melatonin. Also known as the sleep hormone, this encourages your body to wind down for rest. If your employees are producing melatonin at work, it means they will feel more lethargic and will struggle to focus on the task at hand.
Bright light has been proven to enhance concentration, mood and alertness, while dimmed lighting conditions have been shown to improve creativity.
Studies have also found that employees in conditions with blue-enriched white light reported a greater alertness, improved performance and better quality of sleep.
Environments that are too bright could disrupt sleep patterns
Being exposed to too much bright light in the late afternoon or evening can even disrupt an employee’s sleep patterns.
Workplaces need to ensure that the correct business lighting solution is installed across their site. It is important to realise that different tasks require varying lux levels. Making the switch to LED Lighting can have a huge impact on your workforce’s health, wellbeing and productivity.
Contact Remark Group today to discuss our commercial lighting solutions suitable for offices, healthcare facilities, warehouses and factories.