(BPT) - Take a look at your desk. Chances are you have at least two screens in front of you. From our cell phones to multiple monitors and even tablets, backlit screens constantly demand our attention during the workday, but that quality of light could have a negative impact on our health, comfort and productivity. For a quick fix, add a task light. Proper task lighting is an easy hack that can improve your health, comfort and productivity at work.
It can be easy to forget the impact light has on our daily lives, but quality light is vital to keeping us healthy, alert and functioning at our best. It affects not only our biological circadian rhythm, but also our emotions and overall sense of well-being.
According to Jonathan Puleio, a Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) and the Global Vice President of Consulting at Humanscale, “Individual lighting requirements vary based on age.”
He further explains, “By the time we reach our 60s, we require more than 250 percent more contrast to view the same documents we did when we were in our 20s. Compounding the issue is that monitors emit light whereas paper reflects light. This means that monitors and paper-based documents have completely different lighting requirements. Task lighting helps to address both issues, allowing users to adjust their individual light levels according to their task and their respective age. For these reasons, proper lighting has been shown to reduce visual symptoms and improve comfort.”
If you’re ready to invest in a quality task light, here are a few key features to prioritize: quality of lighting, adjustability and footprint. It’s important to look for task lights with LED technology, which provides superior light quality. If designed correctly, LED lights minimize glare, create a uniform footprint of light and cast a single shadow. Many task lights create multiple shadows on the work surface, adding visual complexities that can lead to ocular fatigue. Although you may not notice it, a task light that casts only a single shadow will significantly enhance your comfort. LED lights not only produce higher quality lighting, but they also are better for the environment and last longer too.
A well-designed task light should also offer a wide range of light output so you can find the best brightness level to illuminate your work area. Adjustability of the light’s reach is just as crucial so it can allow you to position the light where you most need it. And finally, a large footprint of light helps you shine high-quality light on more space, eliminating the reliance on subpar overhead lights.
Humanscale, the leader in ergonomic office furniture, is releasing two new solutions that will deliver on all of these features, and more. Now available to purchase, the Nova and Horizon 2.0 task lights combine industry-leading LED technology and adjustability in terms of positioning and light output. These task lights have Energy Star 2.0 certification and are made without toxic chemicals that are commonly found in other household and workplace products. Both also have nightlight modes and sensors that automatically turn the light off when you leave the room. These task lights check all the boxes, so you know your ocular health and comfort will be supported while you work.