{"id":242629,"date":"2021-07-29T01:39:32","date_gmt":"2021-07-29T00:39:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shop.ezobord.com\/uk\/?p=242629"},"modified":"2021-08-25T16:36:52","modified_gmt":"2021-08-25T15:36:52","slug":"how-light-and-sound-impacts-us-in-the-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shop.ezobord.com\/uk\/how-light-and-sound-impacts-us-in-the-office\/","title":{"rendered":"How Light and Sound Impacts Us in the Office"},"content":{"rendered":"[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified”]

Many of us in the UK are finally getting back to shared workspaces, back onto the motorways and trains and into the office. Some of us are still happy to be working from home and feel long may it continue! Whether you\u2019re relishing the commute or looking forward to more time in your home office, one thing we need to all consider is how sitting at our desk and being in the office make us feel. We spend so much time there that we need to ensure we\u2019re as comfortable, happy and healthy and of course productive as we can be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been working at your company\u2019s offices and now find yourself at home, this may be the first time you\u2019ve ever thought about what makes a good workspace. With the prospect of a more long-term working from home scenario you need to consider what will make your desk and surrounding areas comfortable and productive for you. You need to look after your own well-being, mental health, and productivity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Light and sound levels play a key role in ensuring you create a comfortable and productive workspace.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do light levels affect us when we\u2019re working?<\/b><\/p>\n

The level of light around your desk and in the office is so important for comfort and productivity. Ergonomic lighting conditions improve wellbeing, motivation, effectiveness, performance, and satisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n

The fact that there is always a coveted office desk in shared workspaces tells us intuitively that daylight is a good thing to have when we\u2019re working. In fact, daylight is essential in reducing eye strain and headaches. In studies it has been shown that a higher penetration of daylight in the office results in fewer days taken off work by employees due to not just eye health issues, but overall health issues including our mental health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you can position your desk by a window \u2013 that\u2019s ideal but what if you\u2019re faced with the long winter hours we experience in the UK, and let\u2019s not even think about all those cloudy and dark days we get per year\u2026The best solution is to create a layered approach to lighting that combines daylight, indirect light and task centric lighting.<\/span><\/p>\n

How much light do we need at our desks?<\/b><\/p>\n

Different tasks require different levels of light, and your age plays a big role in finding a comfortable and effective light level. Illuminance (measured in Lux) determines how much light falls in an area. If you\u2019re over 45 years old, or if you\u2019re visually impaired, you will need a Lux of 750 -1500 depending on the work you\u2019re doing. If you\u2019re under 45 you can work effectively with much less light – a Lux of 500 is ideal.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is light colour and temperature?<\/b><\/p>\n

Did you know that there are different light colours and temperatures that also play a part in visual comfort? This is measured in Kelvin. Have you ever noticed that in the morning the natural daylight is blueish in the early morning and as the day progresses it takes a more reddish tone? Warm, natural white and daylight bulbs and LEDs can help replicate areas of low natural daylight. As a general guide, daylight white light of 6,000 Kelvin is too bright for office-based tasks. 4,000 Kelvin is considered a neutral and productive light level.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep getting headaches? Clean the lights!<\/b><\/p>\n

If you work in an open plan office or in a shared co-working space it\u2019s not always easy to maintain the lights as there may be high-ceilings, lights that are difficult to access, or it might just not be clear whose responsibility it is to keep them maintained.\u00a0 Just by cleaning the lights and replacing any flickering bulbs the office becomes a much more comfortable workplace. Over time, reduced light levels and flickering can lead to tiredness, eye problems, and headaches. The ideal situation is to use long-life LED\u2019s as they need very little maintenance and up-keep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is noise such a problem in the office?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A recent study from the University of Berkeley found that:<\/span><\/p>\n