Why have I moved my work space from a dedicated, but north facing, office space to a south facing kitchen? And why is this important?

Because I was regularly hitting that 3.30pm slump and in the northern hemisphere, the light comes from the south, and light is linked to cognitive ability, sleep and wakefulness.

Why natural light is fundamental to how we think, feel and perform

Along with many other animals, humans have a body clock, known as a circadian clock. This clock is an internal timing system which has developed to anticipate environmental changes that occur across the 24 hour day / night cycle. In humans, the clock is comprised of a group of specialised cells known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) found in the hypothalamus area of the brain. It receives signals from other specialised cells in the eye known as intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGC). A primary time cue is known to be the daily light / dark cycle and using complex pathways that are not fully understood, light links with circadian rhythms via the body clock and regulates almost all bodily functions, including when to go to sleep, when to wake up and when to be alert.

It has been shown that exposure to daylight, particularly in the morning, suppresses the production of the sleep hormone melotonin, thereby promoting wakefulness, alertness and daytime energy levels. It has also been shown that receiving these signals early helps set the body clock and leads to better sleep quality at night.  In the evening however, continued exposure to light impacts on quality and quantity of sleep as the melotonin production, which is required for sleep, is being suppressed.

Researchers have found that higher illuminance levels led to increased activity in specific areas of the hypothalamus during both the executive and emotional tasks.  These areas of the hypothalamus are associated with wakefulness and alertness.  The researchers specifically linked these changes in hypothalamic activity to cognitive performance as during the executive task, functional performance improved as the light levels increased.

In addition, light exposure also positively influences neurotransmitter balance by increasing production of serotonin – associated with feelings of well-being, calm and focus.

Whilst the ideal would be to be outside with nothing blocking the light reaching the skin and eyes,  glass windows have been shown to not completely block the wavelengths that impact on mood, waking and alertness.

What next?

I've seen the light (see what I did there 😊?) and so I will be setting the hardware up on my kitchen table and seeing the benefits on my workability. I will also be taking advantage of the longer daylight hours and making sure I get some early morning time outside, as well as taking regular breaks outside during the working day.  Going forwards I will look to see if I can create a permanent dedicated space in the house that will allow light to work its magic.

What will you do?

Information sources [accessed 01/04/2026]

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