Productivity: Effects of Weather and Climate Beyond Seasonal Disorders

(from Inspire Me To Work Newsletter)

Anyone who suffers from seasonal depression can tell you about weather and climate effects on productivity.  Even people who don’t suffer from seasonal depression, however, can be affected by temperature, light, and other weather conditions.

Temperature

According to a 2006 study, people are most productive at an office temperature of around 22°C (about 72° F) (http://eetd.lbl.gov/ie/pdf/LBNL-60946.pdf).  Once temperatures hit 30°C (86°F), productivity fell almost 10%.

Of course, this varies on an individual basis.  Many an office thermostat war has been based on perceived or actual prime productivity temperatures.  Some believe that colder temperatures increase their productivity – in fact, the study shows spikes of increased productivity even at temperatures of 15°C (59°F).

What to do about it:

• Sure, you can do your own temperature productivity study, but for those of us who are lazy, consider jotting down the indoor and outdoor temperatures on particularly productive and unproductive days to see if you can determine trends.
• Use a desk fan, sweater, a space heater, hot/cold drinks, and food to help achieve a productive temperature.  If the temperature is extreme enough to distract you from your work, change it.  Remember that your body uses valuable energy to regulate its temperature.

Light

If you rely on natural lighting from windows, you should have solutions to compensate when the weather doesn’t give you the light you need.  People with seasonal depression often find relief from lighting that mimics natural sunlight.

Whether or not seasonal disorders are present, light can have an impact on your mood, health, and productivity.

• If you work in the dark, your body might be working against you.  When exposed to darkness, your body produces more melatonin, which makes you sleepy (http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview).
• Too much light can cause eye-strain, headaches, and even insomnia from decreased melatonin production at night.
• OSHA recommends that light around computer monitors should not shine ON the monitor or come from behind your monitor (http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/wkstation_enviro.html#lighting).  Instead, diffuse light or make sure that bright light is at a 90-degee angle to your computer screen.

Other Weather Conditions

According to a Career Builder study, some workers believed that their negative moods and decreased productivity were intensified by weather conditions.

• Rain (21 percent)
• Cold (14 percent)
• Hot (13 percent)
• Dark (9 percent)
• Snow (9 percent)

(http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobPoster/Small-Business/Article.aspx?articleid=PRGLOOMYWEATHER&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=9ea965238e714bca870f55236ee3ed44-229772601-VH-4)

A 2008 study shows that actual effects of weather on productivity might not be as big as we think (http://psycnet.apa.org/?&fa=main.doiLanding&doi=10.1037/a0013497).

The point is – if we BELIEVE that gloomy/rainy/cold/hot days affect our moods, they probably WILL.

I live in Texas.  I can tell you that 40 days of 100°F+ (38°C+) temperatures definitely decrease my productivity.  In fact, some people with seasonal disorders are affected in summer.  The first days of tremendous heat and unrelenting sun can be as depressing as the absence of heat and sun.

If weather does affect your productivity, here are some solutions:

• Look for the silver lining – literally!  Storms can be beautiful, calming, and cleansing.  Tremendous sunlight can be invigorating.  Gloomy dark days can make bright colors and lights appear even brighter.  Put on some appropriate clothing and splash in a puddle or play in the snow!
• Take weather out of the equation.  Blackout or room-darkening shades can help you forget about the weather outside and give you a little more control over your environment.  This also helps you forget that you’re stuck inside on beautiful weather days.
• Consider supplements to counteract weather effects.  You should consult a doctor, but melatonin might help regulate sleep for people who work at night.  Vitamin D might help people who don’t get enough sun (read labels carefully as too much vitamin D can be toxic).  You can also get vitamin D from fish and dairy products.
• Fool your brain by exposing your senses to different weather.  In the middle of a horribly hot drought, I watched a Discovery program on a blizzard that actually made me cold!  Warm beach photos, murals, or screensavers can help in winter.  Listen to nature sounds of the weather you’d prefer.  Use your imagination.
• Make your desk a refuge from the weather.  When it’s cold, bribe yourself to be at your desk instead of back in bed.  Comfort yourself with a heating pad or space heater only available while you work.  Get a special desk lamp to help you focus on work instead of the weather.

You can’t change temperature, sunlight, or other weather, but you CAN help minimize your reaction to the weather to keep up (or even increase!) your productivity.