Not precisely the situation in which many writers find themselves but PG took a look at his surroundings after reading it.
From Fast Company:
You probably know that your office setup plays a considerable part in your productivity. Poorly lit offices, for example, can have a negative impact on your memory. Those of you who work in open offices probably have a gripe (or two) about your coworker’s loud chewing noise or your inability to make calls in private.
But your office influences your brain in more ways than you think. And since you probably spend plenty of your waking hours there, you might not realize all the effects that it’s having on your mind. Here are five unexpected ways that your workplace can change your behavior—and what you can do when that shift isn’t for the better.
. . . .
YOUR OFFICE HAS AN ARTIFICIAL SOURCE OF LIGHT
Research shows that people who work with natural light are less susceptible to stress and mid-afternoon slump, and report higher levels of well-being. And according to a 2017 study by HR firm Future Workplace, almost half of workers in the U.S. reported feeling tired or gloomy as a result of a lack of natural daylight in their workspace.
Daylight plays an important role in regulating the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal clock that tells us when it’s daytime. Light plays an important part in this because it triggers the release of hormones and neurotransmitters that make us feel alert and energized. Cortisol wakes us up in the morning, and serotonin regulates our mood throughout the day. This in turn improves the brain’s ability to focus and think, as there is plenty of oxygenated blood flow to the brain’s higher thinking cortices, and we’re not distracted by feeling sluggish, hungry, or demotivated.
If your only source of light comes from fluorescent lamps, make it a point to walk outside whenever you can to get a longer daylight fix. You could also invest in a natural-light lamp to have on your desk. These mimic natural light, and as a result will limit the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. If you are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of a lack of sunlight, it may be worth getting your vitamin D levels checked and taking a supplement.
. . . .
YOU’RE NOT FREE TO TAKE BREAKS WHENEVER YOU PLEASE
In offices where you’re expected to stay at your desk for long stretches of time, your brain will pay the price. Human brains can’t focus at a deep level for long periods of time. Concentration fatigue is a real phenomenon, and this occurs when the prefrontal cortex–the part of the brain responsible for logical and analytical thinking–is depleted. The brain needs downtime or a change in focus in order to recharge.
The thing is, the ideal “break” routine varies from person to person, and this is the point. Some people need to walk around, others need to get some air or make a cup of tea. Unfortunately, in many offices this is frowned upon. Hopefully we’ll see this trend change as we see more scientific research that demonstrates how breaks improve productivity.
Link to the rest at Fast Company
I worked in the oil fields on the North Slope of Alaska for a long time. For a few months in the summer the sun never set, and for a few months in the winter, it was never seen.
Some folks did just fine in the winter when the sun left, but others had real problems. They became physically sick, had trouble concentrating, and had difficulty sleeping. These were people who were perfectly normal outside of the arctic winter.
Normal artificial lighting didn’t help. Some sat in front of panels of full spectrum lighting and that “reset” their systems.
Others just left or worked only when it wasn’t dark all the time. I think the permanent staff self-selected and everyone did very well.
It’s certainly an extreme case, but the environment can have some real effects.
One of the perks of moving to Arizona is not needing artificial office light during daylight hours. 😀
Of course, I usually work from the chair-and-a-half in the living room instead of the ergonomic chair in my office…
Hmmm… not sure I agree with that. In the summer, I often keep the blinds closed to keep the heat out.
But I do have my desk next to a window. I used to have it facing the window, but that’s the east side of my apartment, and the rising sun had a tendency to blind me as I wrote. I still keep the blinds closed until later in the day.
But at least we don’t have those long stretches of gray days that I had when I lived in the Northeast. My seasonal affective disorder is much better now!
Nice article cropping.
That water cooler… 🙂 ………..
For lighting I have a ‘white’ light for when I want to feel like it’s ‘daytime’ whatever the hour. I also have a dimmer, slightly yellowish light for when I need my ‘evening/nighttime’ mood.
The rest means nothing in your own home office, you can set up things that work best for you.
Heck, hit a ‘stop point’ and taking a break reading this. 😉
MYMV!