A Light Bulb Moment: How Sunlight Can Change Your Productivity Levels

When it comes to workplace productivity, there’s a range of hacks to help you do your best and feel great. Office plants, desk-based exercises and yes, even procrastination, all have their merits. But what about lighting?

But office design has evolved

As we explore in our Brief History of the Office, office design eventually turned to prioritise the human elements of business, especially collaboration and wellbeing. And for good reason, too.

Part of that involved an appreciation of office plants, the invention of the breakout space, and crucially, a keenness for natural light

The importance of natural light

The window seat is an in-demand spot, and there’s plenty of science that explains why. A US study by Cornell University found that natural light was able to boost the overall employee experience.

The study found that employees who sat near windows were 51% less likely to endure eyestrain from their computers and 63% less likely to experience headaches. On top of that, employees were also able to concentrate longer thanks to a 56% decrease in drowsiness.

As the world of work evolves, how can you stay competitive?

Get your monthly dose of workplace insights, productivity hacks and business leadership ideas - delivered straight to your inbox.

Above: The Argyll Club’s Park House in Mayfair is abundant in natural light thanks to its double-height curved glass roof.

Another workplace perk?

In this new world of work, the office experience is becoming increasingly critical. Amenities like fitness studios, on-site restaurants and breakout spaces play a crucial role in shaping that. But a fundamental part of that experience is access to natural light. In fact, our LinkedIn poll on the most in-demand office amenities found that 36% of respondents said their dream office includes a rooftop terrace, which is a fantastic way to enjoy the sun when it’s shining.

Supporting this, a poll of 1,614 American workers found that “access to natural light and views of the outdoors are the number one attribute of the workplace environment, outranking stalwarts like onsite cafeterias, fitness [centres], and premium perks including on-site childcare.”

Meanwhile, 47% of those workers said they felt more tired when they didn’t have access to natural light or views of the outdoors, and 43% said they felt gloomy without natural light.

Exposure to sunlight is crucial. It can boost our production of serotonin – also known as our ‘happy hormone’, which can even reduce levels of anxiety and depression. So, it’s no surprise that a lack of light can stifle employee productivity and happiness.

The link to biophilic office design

The presence of natural light is a fundamental aspect of biophilic office design – which is a workplace design technique that caters to our innate desire to be near lifelike processes. Office plants, access to outdoor spaces and big windows which welcome plenty of natural light are all key.

The importance of good lighting

But in the instances where an abundance of natural light isn’t always available – especially in the UK’s winter months – circadian lighting is a popular office alternative.

Circadian lighting is a type of lighting that replicates natural light – including its colour, angle and position. It aims to replicate a day’s light, from sunrise to sunset, with warmer tones in the morning through to cooler tones at noon, then back to cooler tones in the evening.

In fact, some studies have even suggested that circadian lighting can boost employee productivity by 20%.

Employees who sat near windows were 51% less likely to endure eyestrain from their computers and 63% less likely to experience headaches.

Embracing the power of sunlight

For business leaders who want their employees to work in optimal, light-filled environments, we can take you through some of the best offices in London. 

Alternatively, if you’re not ready to make an office move, consider incorporating some outdoor team meetings or walk-and-talk phone calls with clients – weather permitting, of course.