Windows onto the World!

When going outside can seem like a burden, looking at it from inside seems like a better and better option.  Take a minute now, while fixes are relatively easy and pleasant, to fine tune what your through-the-window experiences will be like.

Think back to last winter -were there drafts around your windows?  Fix them now.  Drafts waste energy and make your space the wrong temperature for you to live your best life, they stress you out.  As discussed in this article, for brain and body to work well, being in a space that’s 72 degrees Fahrenheit with relative humidity between 40% and 70% is best.

Before the winter onslaught begins, make sure your windows are clean, inside and out.  Streaks and dirt get especially annoying when they’re present for week after month.  Dirt may also, literally, destroy your view or keep natural light from flowing inside and can create glare.  And being in a dirty space is bad for your self-esteem and general wellbeing.

All the effort required to bring glare-free natural light into your home is definitely worth it.  When we’re in natural light inside:

• Our brains work more effectively, our cognitive performance improves (we also learn better in them)—we even read faster (and more accurately process and quickly understand what we’ve read)! (Seats perpendicular to the window are best.)
• We’re in a better mood and our wellbeing and health are elevated. For best results and to be most relaxed in natural light, the patches of sunlight on the floor of the room we’re in should range from 15% to 25% of the total floor area.
• Circadian rhythms that guide our mental and physical connections to the world that surrounds us are in sync with that world, which is a very, very good thing.
• Our social side gets a boost.
• And, for better or worse, we have more self-control (which means natural light in a kitchen can be particularly important if that’s where you snack).

The only psychological reason for not maximizing natural lighting is that we need to sleep in darkness to be fully rested and refreshed, so if you work at night, invest in blackout curtains.

Circadian lighting can, to some extent, compensate for issues with natural lighting.  Wonder what circadian lighting actually is?  Read this article: https://www.gsa.gov/governmentwide-initiatives/federal-highperformance-…   and this one.  and there are lots more if you search “circadian” in our search box, or create your own Space Doctors Researh Journal on this site here. Another bonus of natural light:  It helps us keep track of the passage of time during the day, without that, we can quickly end up discombobulated.

Finally, take a look at your curtains, you want them to do whatever shielding you require as you go about your life in your house but need do no more.  You don’t get bonus points for yards and yards of extra damask hanging on either side of your window, and that extra fabric may block light.  If you live on street level and there will be lots of passers-by outside your home, you’ll probably want to use sheer curtains on your windows—people won’t be able to see what you’re up to and you’ll be bathed in natural light.

Take care of your windows now and they’ll make your life better all winter long.