Workers who spend a day or two working from home often make sacrifices on their equipment. You may not have the docking station and multiple monitors at home. For many people, their home office chair isn’t as good quality as their ergonomic chair in the office. But good lighting shouldn’t be compromised while working remotely.
Why Good Office Lighting is Important
It doesn’t matter where you’re working from, your eyes require good lighting to get through a full day of work. Lighting is often a personal choice - some people prefer a bright white light while others prefer a softer warm one. And when working remotely you can set the lighting of preference.
#1 Lighting for Ergonomics
Poor lighting can cause a range of ergonomic issues. Many office workers suffer from Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS caused by lighting), which includes symptoms such as dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches. Lighting ergonomics can reduce the risk of suffering.
Low light or a flickering light can cause too much contrast between the room’s light and the computer screen, which is not ideal. Dark spots and shadows are common for people who use only a bright desk lamp, and in these cases their eyes need to contract and expand constantly to adapt to different lighting conditions around the room. To ensure an even light around the room, you can use a combination of direct and indirect lighting.
#2 Lighting for Good Posture
A poor posture can lead to a soft tissue injury. Often without realizing, office workers sit awkwardly because of poor lighting. Using blinds on the windows can stop any glare on the computer screen, and positioning your desk so the monitor isn’t directly below an overhead light can contribute to an improved posture. Try using several lower intensity lights instead of one single high intensity light to reduce the chance of shadows on the screen and desk.
#3 Lighting for your Circadian Rhythm
Getting high quality sleep is essential for good health. Lighting during the day impacts the human circadian rhythm: our internal body clock. The hypothalamus in the brain releases melatonin to correlate sleepiness with darkness and alertness with light.
Using as much natural light during the day improves our body’s circadian rhythm but if daytime light alone isn’t enough, changing the intensity of artificial light can help. When working remotely, you can modify the light to benefit your body clock. To help your mind and body, begin to wind down for sleep and reduce the intensity of light mid afternoon. Follow the sun’s lead and change the colour of your lighting. Use cooler, brighter lighting in the morning for tasks that require focus and a warmer light in the late afternoon when starting to wind down and preparing for sleep.
#4 Lighting for Zoom Meetings
Your room might seem to be filled with natural light but if your window isn’t close to your desk, it may not be enough for your camera during a Zoom meeting, for example. Having a light source angled above and in front of you can light your face to avoid shadows on camera and a desk lamp will do the job.
Experiment by moving the lamp around to obtain a flattering light. An ergonomic lamp will allow you to adjust the brightness. If you don’t need to sit at a desk for meetings, you could try sitting closer to the window for more natural light on your face.
Ask the Ergonomic Light Experts
Getting the right lighting makes a big difference to your working day and restful night. If you'd like to discuss your home office lighting specific needs, don't hesitate to visit our Perth showroom, call us on (08) 9240 7066 or contact us online.
If you're looking for more clarity on how to practise good laptop ergonomics, or you'd like to discuss your specific business needs, don't hesitate to get in touch with Ergolink. Call us on (08) 9240 7066 or contact us online.