An Awesome work environment improvement – setting the lights…

Its often the simple things we don’t think about that hold us back. Creating the right work-space, an act of self care, is as important as the work itself. This is particularly important for entrepreneurs who may often work alone and have other priorities. If you are working in the digital economy, WordPress websites, making videos or written content, programming the your productivity can be many times better feel well, bright and positive. Have you noticed how great it is when you are in the zone? Extend how long you get in the zone, or even how often by setting the lights for success.

You may not even need your glasses!

I’m talking about a simple thing – just by buying cheap products and plugging them in you learn how to set up back lighting. Lights behind your screen that reflect off walls and other surfaces scattering a soft light This changes ‘bias lighting‘ (that link is to a They are 6500K color temperature kit for example), increasing comfort by balancing the light in your field of view.

In fact the brain can fall into dysfunction if you work with insufficient light. Computer monitors are very bright – I’ve used them since we had to adapt TV sets to micro-computers and they can really give you headaches. Using back-lighting helps close the iris -its like helping your brains light-meter to change the aperture and that means sharper images too (f8.3 in a brightly lit place). I’ve really thought about this – I’ve known people who simply couldn’t work unless they had a certain type of screen but they couldn’t tell you why.

Back-lighting can improve the contrast of your image on screen. Not only that but it can provide very important lighting if you are video calling someone – face lighting has a lot to do with your emotional image removing dark relief that gives your face an angular more moody appearance. So, yet another reason to improve your office lighting if you attend meetings. Backlights will tend to light your face the best.

Since I moved into my new home after getting married I’ve built different work-spaces to get more out of my time. I have emergency response near where I sleep for priority customers. I’m building a business and working extra hours. Some of the areas are definitely not “office” areas – they are shared living spaces. The ceiling lights are turned off during the day but then, there is insufficient light. Become your own lighting consultant … why not?

USB lighting can be a warm positive type of light and better than some cheap home lighting. Ultra-bright LEDs have change the game. I buy different USB powered lights and position them around – facing the wall to spread light. If i have to go under the desk and look at the computer or plug something in they are handy too – better than a phone torch.

What is SAD?

Useful, cheap and cheerful and if you live in a cold part of the world with longer periods of night there is another reason you need to take lighting as serious as your need to earn a living. Winter depression (aka Season Affective Disorder(SAD)) is something to be aware of. There are warnings not to “brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the “winter blues”. One therapy that saves a lot of people from a dismal time of life every year is called phototherapy to be sitting with a lot of light and LEDs are one type of light that can work. The brain needs light, it changes all kinds of hormones that keep us awake, alert and other emotional symptoms.

I once learned about “winter depression” during a psychology course at University. Over the years I’ve seen people using light therapy to over-come it in various countries I visited. People who are working long shifts on their computers are becoming more aware how important lighting isto take care of your mental health. The spread of blue light filtering software is part of this, blue light is said to make sleeping more difficult if we use screens close to the time we need to sleep.

Solve problems before they arise and create more problems

Preventative solutions mean you may not have to find out for yourself by waiting until things become difficult. I know what kind of terrible work spaces people who are trying to work through hard times end up subjecting themselves to. For as little as $5 to $30 you can buy any number of TV or computer monitor back-lighting systems. Mine was a DIY job because I just happened to be at the markets and found someone selling little USB light strips. That was $5 for me. The time to act is now, and no, that old yellowish table lamp does not mean you are already set to go. You can save power and improve the situation in one upgrade. There is nothing like a cheap and excellent upgrade – this is the low hanging fruit!

Buy backlight kits from Amazon

This one was massively discounted when I wrote this: Vansky Bias Lighting

This is home theatre oriented MYPLUS LED Strip Lights USB Powered , make your office screens equally mood setting.

If you don’t want the extra distraction of colour controls and just DIY it like I did. What looks good Lemonbest 2m Resin Flexible USB LED Lights Strip or Luminoodle USB Bias Lighting and so I’m recommending equivalent OR BETTER products. I’m going to continue to upgrade and test now that I’ve realized the priority I need to put on self care.

I should note that having a little USB lamp around can also be a blessing when you need to light something you are reading or studying at your desk. This is almost identical to what I found at the night markets of Thailand and installed at home in multiple locations. TW Lighting IVY-40WT The IVY LED Desk Lamp

If you prefer Aliexpress – and I use them more because I’m often in South East Asia then … here is a search link to get you started but its hard to know quality unless you buy and test you’ll have to choose products for yourself until I can update this space with good recommendations.

Wholesale USB lighting on AliExpress

Here is a search link for USB lighting on Ali Express

In my experience if you have the budget its good to buy a couple of products because some have advantages and the delivery time can delay you getting things right. You can try different products in unexpected ways – these are generic tools that are cost effective, power saving and highly useful to reduce eye strain, improve your mood and help you work with more focus and calm.

The Blog photos are genuinely what my TV set space in the living room looked like with a USB lamp and a USB light stick. The light stick (as I call it) is plugged right into the TV’s USB socket so it turns off and on when I switch the TV on and off. One less thing to remember – low power, good light.

Armed with this information you might recover more emotional stability, improve your vision, protect your eyesight, improve income by being more productive in the long run and generally feel better. I know I do – since I had to start working with reading glasses I’ve discovered there are times I just don’t need them at all if I get this right.

What if I have a laptop computer?

This gooseneck USB reading light can be bent around the back of your laptop, or it could just make the workspace have a lamp where-ever you travel.

Become enlightened!