Lighting can match your natural rhythm, helping you work well and feel refreshed by the end of the day. Your computer screen seems to have developed a strange glow. The report you were eager to tackle this morning now feels like climbing Everest.

What I mean is that the issue may not lie in your willpower, your sleeping habits, or even your second cup of coffee. The real culprit is probably right above your head, humming quietly.

Most offices are lit like workrooms— cold, bright, and completely disconnected from normal human functioning. We treat light as if its only purpose is to help us see the keyboard, when in reality it is so much more. Light is a biological command. The lighting signals to our brain when to wake up, focus, and relax. Right now, your office lights are sending the wrong signals.

Why Your Lights Are Working Against You

Consider the role of light in nature. Morning light is bright and blue-toned – it screams “WAKE UP!” Afternoon light gets warmer and softer. Evening light is golden and gentle, whispering, “Time to relax.”

Take a look at your office lighting – it looks unchanged in the morning and in the afternoon. The glare is constant and unchanging, and it disrupts your internal clock (your circadian rhythm). ” It’s like trying to fall asleep with a flashlight in your face or waking up in a dark room – not knowing what time of day it is anymore.

The results aren’t pretty:

• The 3 PM zombie mode – your brain thinks it should be winding down
• Screen squinting – harsh overhead lights create glare on your monitor
• Headache central – that subtle fluorescent flicker wears on your nerves
• General grumpiness – because who feels cheerful under interrogation lights?

How to Fight Back With Better Light

The positive part? You don’t want to be a lighting expert to install it. Here are some easy ways to take control:

First, Befriend the Sun

Make the most of your windows! Place your desk to avoid screen glare from natural light. Natural light is better than artificial light, even on cloudy days. Talk to your office manager about the option of using full-spectrum bulbs that mimic natural light.

Become a Layer Master

Good lighting is like a good outfit – it works in layers. Don’t use overhead lights- try layering your lighting like this:

• Base layer: Soft, general room lighting (dim those harsh overheads if you can)
• Middle layer: A good desk lamp for task lighting
• Top layer: Personal touches like a small warm lamp for your space

Take Control of Your Space

This is the important step. If you can’t change the whole office’s lights, change what you can control:

• Choose a good desk lamp that lets you adjust the brightness
• Use warmer bulbs in your personal lamp
• Angle your screen to minimise glare from lights above
• Take regular “light breaks” – step outside for 5 minutes if possible

Your Lights Should Help You, Not Hurt You

Work in a place that increases your energy; no one can drain your productivity. Small changes in lighting can make an improvement in your working environment.

Ready to stop fighting your office lights? 

Discover how Insight Lightings can help you design a lighting system that works for your natural rhythm.  Reach out today for a complimentary lighting assessment – your tired eyes will thank you.