Whether we work/ study from home or not, there are tasks we need to complete at home requiring high concentration and productivity. Many aspects in the home can help improve or hinder our concentration and productivity.
What are the aspects of the holistic home to evaluate and address?
Light • Improving lighting We need proper lighting to stay awake and alert. Task lighting could be especially helpful to illuminate the work area. The light intensity we require to perform best is 60-80 footcandles per square foot. Which means, in a 100 square feet space, for example, we need 6000-8000 lumens (footcandles per square foot). • Reducing glare Glare could be a major distraction causing eye strain, and hindering concentration. Using shading devices, such as blinds, curtains and shutters can aid in reducing glare when the source of light is the sunlight. In the case of glare being caused by artificial lighting, we have few options – to adjust the direction of the light source, so it doesn’t reflect; or use non-reflective surface to assist in reducing glare; or the combination of the two.
Sound • Lessening background noise In particular, mechanical background noises drain our mental capacity. The ideal sound intensity for a focused work environment is 50 decibels (db) or less. This level equates to the sound of a moderate rainfall. Sound levels over 50 db vastly affect cognitive performance. AC units could produce 60 db sound levels. This means, 2x the volume of 50 db but 10 times more sound intensity than 50 db. Vacuum cleaners at 70 db equate to 4 times the perceived volume but 100 times the sound intensity. • Minimizing voice distraction Voice is an attention grabber. Our brains are wired to detect and focus on human voice. Normal speech is between 55-65 db and it can be particularly disturbing because it fluctuates, unlike steady mechanical noise. Listening to music (unless it is instrumental) or running the TV drain our cognitive reserves.
Patterns • Taking away the bold patterns Bold and high-contrasting patterns draw our attention away from our work. They may seem to be minor distractions but they add up over the course of the day. Our eyes move on average 3 times per second. Unknowingly the gaze may be directed towards those bold patterns numerous times a day. This drains our brain power and diminishes our concentration and productivity. Minor distractions seem insignificant but they affect our performance. Irrelevant objects draw our attention and we lose cognitive capacity quickly over the course of the day.
Furniture • Removing excessive furniture Excessive furniture and trinkets distract us and divert our focus. These items trigger different emotions and bring up memories – when and where did we buy them, how did we use it, who does it remind us of? This makes it difficult to control and direct our thoughts to the task at hand, and more quickly depletes our cognitive reserve for the day.
Colors • Eliminating bright colors Bright colors are very distracting when trying to concentrate and be at our highest productivity levels. Different colors trigger different physical and emotional responses. Blue, for example, is universally calming because we relate it to the sky and water. Red and orange, however, are perceived as indicators for danger and intimidation. The alert response they activate is associated with blood, fire, poisonous animals and plants encountered in nature. The output we can produce in our work endeavors decreases when our bodies are automatically preparing to handle such dangers.
The main takeaway is that the space we occupy influences our concentration and productivity. We can improve it fairly easily and benefit from the change immensely.
Learn more about “Why is the right Lighting in the Home essential?” in this guide: https://www.holistichomesarchitecture.com/guide-why-is-the-right-lighting-in-the-home-essential.html
Drop me a line to create the best environment for concentration and productivity in your home! Ana Ana Koleva Miller, RA, NCARB, Fitwel Amb.