Many people experience fatigue and a lack of concentration during the workday. This is often explained by too little sleep or high work pressure.
According to new research, the surroundings, especially the light we are exposed to, may also influence how alert and mentally sharp we feel.
Light in everyday life
Light is essential for the body’s circadian rhythm. It helps the brain regulate when we feel tired or awake.
Previous studies have shown that bright light in laboratory settings can make people more alert, while light exposure late in the day can disrupt sleep.
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The question, however, has been whether these effects also apply in everyday environments such as offices, homes, and public transport.
A wristband
According to a study published in the journal Communications Psychology, researchers followed 58 adults in the United Kingdom over the course of a week.
The participants lived their normal lives and were asked not to change their habits.
They wore a wristband that measured light exposure around the clock and completed short tests on their smartphones several times a day.
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The tests measured, among other things, reaction time, attention, and perceived sleepiness. Sleep duration and timing were also recorded.
What the researchers found
The results showed that people who had been exposed to more light shortly before the tests felt less sleepy and reacted more quickly.
Participants with more stable and stronger daylight exposure performed better on certain attention tasks.
The effects were not large, however, and the researchers emphasize that the study cannot prove cause and effect.
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Nevertheless, the findings suggest that light may be an overlooked everyday factor that can influence mental performance, alongside the time of day.
Sources: News Medical, and Communications Psychology.
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