A Balance Between Lighting And Your Health Is Important
January 15th, 2009 Posted in Kitchen Lighting
When the sun is out during the daytime, it provides plenty of light for people to be able to undertake just about any outdoor activity that they like. And, if the world of today was accustomed to living their lives in harmony with the natural cycles of light, then there would not be much need to have all the various types of artificial lighting that is available these days. But instead, people spend the majority of their waking hours in homes, offices and shops that are lit by man-made lighting fixtures and don’t give much heed at all to the natural light that is available to them.
Instead, there is an enormous amount of electricity that is consumed in order to provide all of the lights that are needed these days. These lights lighting fixtures include those that are used for the indoors during the day and night, as well as outdoor lighting at night. This allows people to pursue their occupations and their recreations as they please, regardless of what kind of natural light is available.
It is obvious that the vast majority of the civilized world is more interested in being able to engage in their favorite activities whenever they please as opposed to being subject to the changing light of day. Even though humans are the only creatures on the planet that are not completely governed by the patterns and cycles of natural light, they seem oblivious to that fact and even to their dependence on artificial lighting.
However, there is more and more evidence these days that in order for humans to enjoy optimal states of health and well-being, they should allow themselves to be at least somewhat governed by the natural light of the sun. People who spend too much time indoors under artificial lights and with very little exposure to the sun on a regular basis often find themselves battling depression, fighting off various illnesses, and having a feeling of being “out of sync” with the world in general.
Those who live in areas where they can enjoy abundant sunshine, and who actually take advantage of such an environment, are known to enjoy an overall higher level of health, as well as being inclined to be much more optimistic, vibrant, positive and upbeat in their attitudes about life. There is no doubt that sunshine provides a positive effect on people, while living primarily under artificial lights can have exactly the reverse effect, especially over long periods of time.
It is also a well-know and widely accepted fact that gentle lights and sounds are soothing and can encourage and enhance relaxation. With that in mind, it does not take much of a stretch of the imagination to see that harsh sounds and bright lamps, track lighting or wall lamps can bombard the senses and be quite unnerving. Over time, this type of glaring and sever illumination can take its toll on people who are subjected to it day in and day out.
Everyone has different needs in terms of what is best for them in their daily environments and people have different levels of tolerance, both for sunshine and natural light, and for the artificial lights that are so prevalent today. However, since it is known that gentle lighting can help to improve concentration, mood and overall mental health, it is important to find a balance.