As we’re in the midst of winter in New Zealand, over June and July you’re likely to get less natural light than you normally would during the rest of the year. If you’ve noticed winter taking a toll on your mood this year, you’re not alone: many people have a rough time during this period – something that we’ll discuss below in this blog post.

Natural light and Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), commonly known as the ‘winter blues’, is manifested by the negative mood changes experienced as a result of winter and its conditions. SAD will affect not only people’s moods, but also their sleep and overall feelings of wellbeing.

While scientists haven’t yet been able to fully understand this phenomenon, the factors that are thought to be most closely related to SAD are colder weather, a greater portion of time spent inside, shorter days, and the resulting decrease in natural light hours that people experience. The effects of SAD can be amplified for those who live or work in buildings without windows to let in natural light.

What is your ‘Circadian Rhythm’?

The Circadian Rhythm is the human sleep-wake cycle, which is regulated by the level of natural light that you receive. Dim homes and offices without enough light will produce a negative effect upon your ability to sleep well at night, and will also make you feel more sluggish and tired during the day. This is because your biological processes will translate the lack of light into feelings of sleepiness while, on the other hand, natural sunlight will help wake you up, making you feel more alert and generally brighter.

Natural light in the office

In the office, natural light will not only increase worker productivity and morale, but will also increase their overall job satisfaction. As an employer, making sure that your office is well-lit with lots of natural light and allows people to work in the sun if they so desire will lead to happier employees who are able to concentrate more and work harder – there are no drawbacks for anyone involved!

Furthermore, investing in a natural lighting solution will also improve communication - your employees are more likely to get on well with each other! Light creates a perception of heat, and this perception of heat triggers our emotional responses, subconsciously making people feel warmer to those around them, and improving how we respond to compliments.

If you’re looking to increase the levels of natural light in your home or office, Solatube skylights are perfect - you can position them to receive the most sunlight possible at any point of the day. Through Hometech, you access our range Solatube NZ skylights: we provide only the highest-quality skylights New Zealanders are able to install at home, helping home and business owners reduce their electricity use and power bill.

Contact Hometech now to take the first step toward fixing your home or office’s natural lighting problems in winter.