Author: Ludovica
Nowadays, when we think about sunlight, all that comes to our mind are its dangerous effects on our health. Fortunately, it’s not only like that.
It’s true, long sun exposures can cause a big variety of issues for our body, but small daily doses of sunlight - especially of morning sun - can surely positively affect our wellness.
There are no specific rules about the timing of sun exposure. It depends on many factors like skin tone, age, diet, medical history, and the place we live in. Generally, scientists consider 5-15 minutes to be enough to get benefits without damaging our health.
Clearly, a longer exposure is possible, but only after carefully applying SPF!
1. The Science Behind Sun Exposure and Productivity
One of the most known benefits of sunlight is vitamin D, a group of compounds that help regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in our body. These nutrients are necessary to keep our bones, teeth, and muscles healthy and strong.
Another important advantage of sunlight for our body is the regulation of circadian rhythm, in short, our biological clock. Specifically, exposing ourselves to sunlight during the day will let us better alternate our bodies between light and darkness and, consequently, sleep better at night.
Also, letting natural light in the places where we spend most of our time strongly impacts our mood and psychological well-being. In this case, the main character is Serotonin, a neurotransmitter known also as the “happiness hormone”. It principally regulates our mood, emotions, sleep, and appetite, but also affects wound healing, the cardiovascular system, and sexual wellness.
2. Workplace Benefits of Sunlight Exposure
Such as in our house, also in our workplace, sunlight is crucial. Firstly, it permits you to work quietly, without straining your eyes. When it’s possible, you should always opt for natural light; therefore, if your office has big windows, try to take full advantage of it. During summer, white curtains can save you from warm weather without waiving sun benefits.
A survey by an HR advisory firm found that sunlight is craved by employees because it’s fundamental and essential to human needs.
Employees said that access to natural light and views improves their overall happiness and well-being, work satisfaction, work performance, and organizational commitment.
According to a 2011 study at the University of Oregon, the quality of the view from a person’s desk and their exposure to natural light are interconnected with the amount of sick time they take. In the study, those who had nice views of the outside and received a decent amount of sunlight took 6.5% less sick leave than others.
The lack of sunlight has a very negative impact on the ability to work, and there is no artificial lighting that can substitute for it.
3. Practical Ways to Incorporate Sunlight into Your Workday
There are many ways you can embed sunlight into your work shift.
One of them can be taking outdoor breaks during lunchtime or going for a short walk. An idea could also be to dedicate undemanding tasks, like calls and briefings, to an outside time in order to appreciate fresh air and work at the same time.
If some days you’re really busy working, try moving your desk towards the window and watch the nature outside. This little change can increase your exposure to natural light without even stepping out of the office.
In addition to that, a key tool for northern countries that have winters with very few hours of sun is light therapy. It’s a technique used for substituting sunlight in dark environments.
Light therapy provides for using a special lamp or lightbox that emits an intense full-spectrum light, very similar to the sun's. To be effective, the lamp has to be positioned 40-60 centimeters from your face for around thirty minutes while you work - better if in the morning - and you will benefit from all the advantages of sunlight.
Conclusion
In conclusion, daily exposure to sunlight can make a big difference in your productivity, mood, and well-being in general. As already said, natural light regulates your circadian rhythm, facilitates the production of vitamin D and serotonin, and also helps to keep your energy and concentration levels high during your workday.
Even small changes like passing lunch breaks outside or better organizing our workplace can have a very positive impact on us. Integrating sun exposure into your job routine will not only enhance your work quality but also give you a strong feeling of motivation and wellness. Therefore, when possible, take advantage of sunlight: your body and your mind will thank you a lot!
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