While the right type of work desk or ergonomic chair is important to promote well-being and productivity at the workplace, adequate lighting plays an equally important role in boosting employee efficiency. Good office lighting can help you prevent eye strain, minimize headaches, and may help combat workplace stress. All of these factors are vital for your motivation and productivity.
Lighting is a very nuanced point of contention in a lot of corporate settings. However, you'd be surprised to know just how important it is for your employees. The right blend of natural and ambient lighting can help lower mental stress, boost emotional well-being, and can be a very good way to optimize your team's overall productivity. Thoughtfully installed lighting has been found to help people maintain a balanced mood, combat depression, help increase energy, and elevate alertness.
Understanding the Importance of a Mixture of Natural and Ambient Lighting
All types of lighting can be equally effective if you know how to use it. However, nothing beats natural lighting. It can help regulate key bodily functions such as help in the timely release of endocrines and regulate your nervous system by releasing essential hormones. On the other hand, natural lighting can also help minimize stress-induced headaches, combat lethargy by keeping you energized, and keep you alert.
But the problem is, there is no way anybody can extend the amount of time they can expose themselves to natural lighting. As soon as the sun begins to go down, you need to rely on artificial lighting to reap the same benefits. For more optimal settings, it is a good idea to situate your office furniture in and around areas where there is an abundance of natural light coming in.
This is important as you will also be able to install or place artificial lighting to get the same amount and intensity of illumination while you work. Thanks to strides in modern technology, it is easy to get office lighting that is specifically designed to mimic the illumination of the sun (the temperature range of the sun is 5,000K to 7,000K)
Investing in artificial lighting that can easily induce the same level of illumination as the sun can provide your employees with the same benefits – which are, elevated energy levels and alertness. However, you need to carefully choose the best type of artificial lighting, considering how dim or bright it is.
You see, an environment with dim lighting can be very counterproductive. It can lead to your employees suffering from frequent eye strain, which in turn, could cause headaches, migraines, and even other types of eye conditions. In addition, your employees may also experience mood swings, drowsiness, and possibly lower levels of motivation.
The Negative Impact of Bad Lighting on Employee Efficiency
Lighting layout and how it is installed does considerably influence employee motivation, efficiency, and overall quality of life. It can play a huge role in determining whether your employee is determined enough to perform with an elevated level of productivity the next day.
With poor lighting, likely, your employees will fall victim to eye strain and experience frequent headaches. This could, in turn, have a trickle-down effect, leading employees to procrastinate and become dissatisfied. In light of this, mentioned below are some consequences of inadequate lighting you should remedy.
Very Bright Lights
Extremely bright lights, whether at home or the office, can be very bad for individuals suffering from photosensitivity. Bright lights can easily lead them to develop painful migraines and constant eye discomfort.
Flickering Lamps or Lighting
For individuals who have to frequently combat migraines and tension headaches, flickering lighting can be a very big problem. These lights are notorious for inducing headaches and can be just as dangerous for employees who suffer from epilepsy.
Lights With High Color Contrast and Glare
Lights that have a piercing glare or come with high color contrasts can be bothersome, especially if you combine everything with the glare your laptop screens give off. They can easily cause eye strain and constant headaches.
How To Implement the Ideal Lighting Design
When selecting the right lighting layout for the office, it is important to take into account the type of tasks your team does and the duration of their work. Based on that, mentioned below is a list of different light contrasts and effects to boost efficiency and promote employee wellness.
Warm Lighting Colors
Red, yellow, or orange lighting can help boost employee alertness and focus, keeping them motivated to perform with consistent productivity levels. These colors are well-suited for workers who primarily work at night.
Cold Light Shades
Green and blue lighting are quite effective for adding a certain amount of calm and relaxation. These lights can help optimize employee concentration and are ideal for high-traffic workplace environments.
Bottom Line
So there you have it, a comprehensive look into how bad lighting can be the cause for employee demotivation and dwindling productivity, why adequate lighting is important, and how to implement the right lighting design in the office.
