The Benefits of Working in Natural Light and Fresh Air

How your work environment can impact your mental health and productivity

Photo by XPS on Unsplash

When I began my career as a social worker, my first office was in a room that had no windows. I absolutely hated it. I like to look outside and see sunlight and nature. For me, it helps the day to go by faster. After about a year and a half of working in an office setting, my job allowed me to work from home full-time.

I took advantage of that opportunity to work by a window as much as I could. I noticed that working in natural lighting had many great mental health advantages for me. Recently I decided to take it a step further and open the windows while working and writing. I love it and have experienced some great results while working this way. The 2 major benefits that I have found while working in or near natural light and fresh air are the following:

Improved Mood

As a social worker, my days vary. Some days are light and some days are heavy depending on what problems I have to solve for my clients. It can wear on my mental health sometimes. With it being cold outside and working at home with kids, it can be hard to find time to just go outside for a walk and get fresh air. But I’ve found that opening the window while I work or even while I clean the house is therapeutic. When I feel the breeze through my window, it relaxes me and helps me to pause to take a deep breath. I feel at ease. This may be because of the natural effects that fresh air has on our bodies. In an interview that SheKnows conducted with Dr. Anthony Wong of Orange Coast Medical Center, Wong states that getting fresh air improves our mood because it allows our bodies to not have to work as hard to get the oxygen it needs to rejuvenate our minds.

So what if you can’t work by a window? Why not take a break to step outside for a few minutes if you can to just take in the breeze and sunlight. Any amount of time in fresh air helps.

Improved Concentration and Energy

I also noticed that when I started to work near sources of fresh air, rather it be outside on my deck or by an open window, I felt more energized and able to concentrate on my work for longer periods of time. According to the University of Rochester, research studies have proven that being in nature can help with feelings of exhaustion. I had no idea that nature had this effect. When we are able to concentrate better and feel energetic, we are able to be more productive. According to an interview by NBC News with Dr. Ashwini Nadkarni, greater exposure to light has been correlated with high productivity in previous research. According to Nadkarni, this could be because of the effect that sunlight can have on our sleep-wake cycle and controlling our fatigue levels.

Working near sunlight and fresh air has greatly improved my mood, productivity, and energy levels. I encourage you to give it a try!