I recently moved from an office with no natural sunlight – none at all – to one that now has it flooding in like a wave of nourishment from almost all directions. Of course, there are downsides. Daydreaming has ramped up. It also gets awfully hot and glary in the afternoon. And it's a reminder on glorious days of what I'm missing. But, gee, it's made a difference.
When working at home, I've noticed a similar thing. On buying an apartment last year, I was especially excited about its study alcove, which I eagerly renovated into my dream office space. Except I never spend any time there since it has no natural sunlight whatsoever. Most of my work is now done at the dining table where the sun delivers a warm presence, in temperature and solace.
![Sunlight can make us all better off at work.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906103819im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/t/h/l/j/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsmclo.png/1478749587834.jpg)
But clearly this isn't just about me. A need for the sun's healing properties is becoming increasingly vital to all employees, many of whom spend much of their workday locked inside a corporate cave where their only respite is a short trip to the food court downstairs, which in itself is often similarly devoid of sunlight.
Scientists explain this human need by suggesting the brain is like a muscle. When it's forced to concentrate for extended periods of time, particularly hours staring at a screen, the brain becomes fatigued in the same way any other muscle becomes exhausted when exercised excessively at the gym. A burst of sunlight represents the brain's opportunity for replenishment.
So why is that? In a word: fascination. Prior research has shown an injection of sunshine makes our brain temporarily fascinated, thereby restoring cognitive function. Vitamin D, too, generates a range of positive outcomes such as an enhanced immune system, better sleep cycles and the release of serotonin, which is frequently credited for uplifts in mood.
Researchers from Central Michigan University were recently fascinated themselves by those interactions and so they wanted to explore the benefits of sunlight from a workplace perspective. They surveyed 444 people in the United States as well as in India to ensure a varied sample. They found the following:
· Direct sunlight, such as being out in the sun, can significantly ease anxiety.
· Indirect sunlight, such as that which pierces through an office window, is associated with lower rates of depression.
· And any type of exposure to the sun is related to higher rates of job satisfaction and greater commitment from employees to their employer.
It's logical, then, to conclude that workspaces designed in a way that makes the most use of natural light would be of immense benefit to every organisation's workforce. Granted, it's easier said than done when doing so often requires the type of investment that's beyond the budget of many businesses.
Which is why the rest of the study is quite instructive because it also researched other kinds of natural elements and their impact on employees. These can include pictures of nature on the wall, pot plants and idyllic screen savers.
The scholars discovered that even though sunlight has a much more powerful effect, there's no discounting the benefits of those alternatives. They, too, are related to lower rates of depressed mood, higher job satisfaction and greater employee loyalty.
The only area they don't have much of an impact on is anxiety. Although I find that somewhat hard to believe. While lying on a dentist's chair last week, it was hard to miss the breathtaking poster of the Australian landscape he had taped to the ceiling. Simply looking at it made me less anxious. That is, until I heard the penetrating blast of what sounded like a drill …
James Adonis is the author of Employee Enragement.
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