These days, the trope of a depressed person has become a cliché.
TV shows and movies depict a depressed person as someone who is shut away in a dark
room with shutters covering the windows and discarded bits of food and trash
cluttering the floor. However, there is more truth to this scene than we are
aware of. Did you know a dim room without any windows to let sunlight in can
negatively affect your brain? This blog post will go over the many ways that an
open, well-lit window can improve your psychological health.
Increased Productivity
Windows increase productivity in almost every definition of
the word. In a work environment, multiple studies have shown that workers are
more happy and productive when there are windows in the office. Natural light
sparks energy and positivity, and causes workers to have improved mental
clarity and problem solving skills. When a workplace is closed off from windows
or has darker lighting, employees perform more poorly.
However, this is not just limited to the workplace. A study conducted
by Heschong
Mahone Group showed that students in rooms with windows scored
higher on exams than those in rooms with only artificial light. Another study
done by the same group found that Walmart made 40% more sales when their
checkout counters were located under skylights. If you want to improve your
productivity, do your work in a room with a window!
Decreased Depression
Sunlight has two benefits that help you fight depression: it
boosts vitamin D in your body, and it helps your body release more serotonin.
Vitamin D is a type of hormone linked to your body’s “feel-good” hormones, and
serotonin is one of those “feel-good” hormones that boosts your mood. While
spending too much time in the sun can cause sun burns and even skin cancer, a
certain amount of time in the sun each day can be incredibly beneficial to your
body.
This is where windows come in. Most modern windows are
treated to let in light without letting in harmful UV rays. So, windows give
you all the good parts of natural light while leaving out the harmful parts.
Many studies
have shown that taking in natural light helps people feel better because of the
increased intake of vitamin D and production of serotonin. Whether you suffer
from depression, or if you’re simply feeling gloomy that day, being near a
window can improve your overall mood.
Improved Sleep
Your sleep cycle, or circadian cycle, is what makes you wake
up in the morning and fall asleep at night. If this gets messed up, you will
experience sleep problems related to insomnia, oversleeping, or fatigue. Your
windows can help! The National Center of Biotechnology Information conducted a
30-year study and
found that natural light affects our circadian cycle. In a different study,
researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute discovered that people who were
exposed to more sunlight had a better quality of sleep, fell asleep faster, and
didn’t wake up as often during the night, compared to those who were not as
exposed to natural light.
Why does this happen? Not only does being exposed to the
morning light improve your mood for the day, but it also lets your body know
when it’s time to wake up. After the sun goes down, your brain is triggered
into producing melatonin, which is the chemical that makes you sleepy. The
natural cycle of the day regulates our cycle of sleep, meaning that our bodies
are biologically attuned to the rising and setting of the sun.
Conclusion
There are countless psychological benefits of sunlight.
Natural light is incredibly good for the human body, so being near a window all
day can really improve your overall well-being. However, a dirty window doesn’t
let as much light in. Make sure that your windows are nice and clean by calling
Ernest
Windows for our window cleaning services!