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!
