Invest in workplace lighting

The right light when we work means more than we think. Especially during autumn and winter when darkness sets in. Access to light makes us alert, concentrated, and increases performance. Lack of light and poor lighting can instead make us tired, cause headaches, and create problems in the neck and back. Here are some tips on what you should consider when choosing workplace lighting.

”It's not just the brain that's affected by poor lighting, resulting in headaches and more. Poor lighting can also affect our physical posture and, in the worst case, create neck and back problems.”

When the light isn't sufficient, we tend to squint our eyes and crane our necks to see better on the screen or paper. This can cause headaches, among other things, but can also affect our mood and our desire to be social.

We need different amounts of light

An older person often needs more light than a younger person. The reason is that as we get older, our eyesight deteriorates, and our eyes need more light to see well.

Therefore, individual adjustment of the amount of light is important even when we work. The risks of an interior that only has fixed lighting, without the possibility of adjustment, are that some employees do not get the light they need to concentrate and cope with their tasks.

Here's how too little light affects us:

• Fatigue
• Reduced performance
• Lowered immune system
• Reduced desire for activity
• Less social, don't want to socialize with others
• Disrupted circadian rhythm
• Winter fatigue
• Low mood with risk of clinical depression
• Sleep problems
• Stress

Researchers agree on the importance of proper lighting

A study conducted by Novus for the Lighting Industry shows that there is ample room for improvement in workplace lighting.

Studies show the following:

Poor lighting in many workplaces

• Only 15% of working adults report that the lighting at their workplace is tailored to their individual needs.
• Only 15% of respondents say they can adjust the brightness of the lighting themselves.
• Only one in eight (12%) has lighting that turns off automatically when they leave the room.
• Almost no one (3%) works in a lighting environment where the light level is automatically adjusted based on natural light.

”A lack of light, but also too much light, can be harmful to us in the long run. Light affects our hormones and should follow the rhythm of the day. The right amount of light affects our ability to be effective, but also to get recovery between intense work sessions.“