Have you ever left your office at work wondering why you feel sick, and feeling better when you get outside, or enter the door of your home? Ever sit in the office at a car dealership or standing in line at a bank or store at the mall and wonder why you're feeling lethargic? Do you ever walk out of a mall with a pounding headache?
We all know we have 5 senses; and even though we may be conscious of one--two at the most--at one time, all 5 are firing, taking in phenomena and sending messages to our brains. The five senses, both consciously and unconsciously, connect us to, and in turn react to, our environment.
There are a number of triggers in our environment that can literally make us sick; or will be harmful to some while merely annoying to others. Here are some:
1. Lighting: This is a powerful part of our environment that can either make one feel calm or aggressive. There are studies that show an increase of aggression, dizziness, and even muscle fatigue with fluorescent lighting. When you are under bright lights all day, your nervous system is being taxed, which can take a significant toll on your moods and performance. It's very important to seriously consider the kind of light you have in your office. The best is natural light. If you are sensitive to light, and cannot draw most of if from natural sources, look into a dimmer, or lamps that create light and shade.
2. Noise: Did you know that the dull humming of an HVAC can impact your concentration? Just think about all the effort your brain is using to block out that hum when it could be channeled to the work at hand. Many people think that blasting pop music will give you a boost while you're working, but more often than not it can lead to further agitation. Music can be a an important way to drown out noise, and lift your mood while you're working; but you need to be mindful what kind of music you use. There have been countless studies, e.g., on the use of Baroque music to boost concentration and memory. Nevertheless, if you're working in a place that is loud and full of people all the time, it will be important to get away periodically and get some quiet time for sorting out your thoughts and feelings.
3. Smell: I was at a dinosaur exhibit that was in the same part of a building as the cafeteria, and the smell of the food, for better or worse, totally threw my experience off--something weird about looking at a dinosaur that existed prehistorically while my olfactory system is being besieged by pungent food odour. The same can be said about perfumes and cologne: they are known to contain neurotoxins, that is, they have ingredients that can impact your mood. Feeling depressed or anxious? It could be the cologne you or your colleague is wearing. How many offices and homes use scented candles or some other kind of scent to keep the environment "fresh"? Those scents can have a harmful impact on your mood and overall health. Many workplaces are going 'scent-free'. If you are feeling bad in an environment--whether home or work--and you notice a strong scent, you could be more sensitive to smell than you think.
4. Layout: How your desk is organized and situated will have an impact on your productivity. I worked in an office once that had bright fluorescent lighting, in light of which I made two minor changes that totally changed my situation and enhanced my productivity: 1) I took out one of the long fluorescent bulbs, reducing the fluorescent lighting by a half, and replace that light with several lamps thus creating areas of light and shade, 2) I turned the desk toward windows outside my office that led to the outside, thus allowing me with a shift of my body to be able to gaze partially outside. I also switched out a sit-down desk to a stand-up desk that allowed me to move around while I worked. It's very important to consider your workspace layout and make changes that will enhance natural light, allow you to move your body when need be, to reduce harmful scents, and shield out noise.
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