How does Lighting influence our state of mind?
We all know that lighting has a profound impact on our lives. It helps us to have a better view of the world and our surroundings. Several studies suggest that lighting affects many biological, mental and emotional factors and can directly contribute to our mood and productivity.
If we correctly understand how light affects or influences our mood and behavior, we can create spaces that allow us to be more creative, energetic and productive. If you notice that your mood changes as you enter your home or office, then it could be a sign that you should change your lighting.
1. Maximizes emotions
A 2014 study showed that when we are in bright lights our emotions, both negative and positive, increase. The researchers asked volunteers to rate the aggressiveness of a fictional person, the attractiveness of three women, the appeal of different hot sauces, and to report how they felt about a series of positive, negative, and neutral words. Overall, the volunteers seated in the brighter room judged the character as more aggressive, the women as more attractive, expressed a preference for spicier sauces, and had stronger opinions about positive and negative words compared to those in a room. poorly lit room.
2. Improves our mood
Lighting is not just limited to light fixtures installed in our homes. A little sunlight during the day can have a positive impact on how we feel throughout the day. A 2014 study found that individuals with windows in offices slept and exercised more than coworkers who didn't. The researchers concluded that exposure to natural light helps our bodies maintain their natural circadian rhythm, allowing us to feel more energetic and alert.
3. It affects our appetite
It's true, light affects our appetite, what we consume and how much we consume. Fine dining, dimly lit can make you eat slower. On the other hand, the bright lights of a fast food restaurant can make you eat faster and opt for less healthy foods. Lighting also affects how we taste things. A 2009 study found that backlighting affected how much a group of volunteers liked a particular brand of wine, due to how different lighting influenced its color.
4. Relieves the symptoms of depression
The type of lighting we surround ourselves with affects our mental health in the short and long term. A 2013 study found that people suffering from depression and vitamin D deficiency benefit from natural sunlight. Naturally, sunlight does not have the ability to cure depression alone, however studies indicate that it can mitigate its symptoms by impacting our circadian rhythm and improving our sense of well-being.
Another 2015 study corroborated these results, but instead of spending more time outdoors, volunteers participated in light therapy, a process that involves regular, prolonged exposure to lamps designed to mimic natural light outside. The researchers found that a combination of phototherapy and antidepressants was significantly more effective in treating depression compared to using antidepressants alone.
5. Prevents drowsiness and fatigue
Fatigued employees tend to turn to distractions like gaming, social media, music or YouTube to break out of the monotony. However, a change in lighting can help boost motivation. Allowing in natural light helps our eyesight, improves our mood and boosts our energy levels. All of this helps keep employees happy and encourages them to get on with their tasks.
If we correctly understand how light affects or influences our mood and behavior, we can create spaces that allow us to be more creative, energetic and productive. If you notice that your mood changes as you enter your home or office, then it could be a sign that you should change your lighting.
1. Maximizes emotions
A 2014 study showed that when we are in bright lights our emotions, both negative and positive, increase. The researchers asked volunteers to rate the aggressiveness of a fictional person, the attractiveness of three women, the appeal of different hot sauces, and to report how they felt about a series of positive, negative, and neutral words. Overall, the volunteers seated in the brighter room judged the character as more aggressive, the women as more attractive, expressed a preference for spicier sauces, and had stronger opinions about positive and negative words compared to those in a room. poorly lit room.
2. Improves our mood
Lighting is not just limited to light fixtures installed in our homes. A little sunlight during the day can have a positive impact on how we feel throughout the day. A 2014 study found that individuals with windows in offices slept and exercised more than coworkers who didn't. The researchers concluded that exposure to natural light helps our bodies maintain their natural circadian rhythm, allowing us to feel more energetic and alert.
3. It affects our appetite
It's true, light affects our appetite, what we consume and how much we consume. Fine dining, dimly lit can make you eat slower. On the other hand, the bright lights of a fast food restaurant can make you eat faster and opt for less healthy foods. Lighting also affects how we taste things. A 2009 study found that backlighting affected how much a group of volunteers liked a particular brand of wine, due to how different lighting influenced its color.
4. Relieves the symptoms of depression
The type of lighting we surround ourselves with affects our mental health in the short and long term. A 2013 study found that people suffering from depression and vitamin D deficiency benefit from natural sunlight. Naturally, sunlight does not have the ability to cure depression alone, however studies indicate that it can mitigate its symptoms by impacting our circadian rhythm and improving our sense of well-being.
Another 2015 study corroborated these results, but instead of spending more time outdoors, volunteers participated in light therapy, a process that involves regular, prolonged exposure to lamps designed to mimic natural light outside. The researchers found that a combination of phototherapy and antidepressants was significantly more effective in treating depression compared to using antidepressants alone.
5. Prevents drowsiness and fatigue
Fatigued employees tend to turn to distractions like gaming, social media, music or YouTube to break out of the monotony. However, a change in lighting can help boost motivation. Allowing in natural light helps our eyesight, improves our mood and boosts our energy levels. All of this helps keep employees happy and encourages them to get on with their tasks.