Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I'm moving in a month - we are downsizing as my wife no longer works and money has been tight. I also work from home, and this apartment will have no spare office - it does, however, have a gigantic closet (12'x8') that is actually bigger than the office I'm currently using.

That being said, I'm know wondering how to keep this office lit in a way to prevent me from getting drowsy - I currently work beside a giant 6'x5' window overlooking the Florida equivalent of a rain forest (wetlands preserve), and that when combined with a basic yellow overhead light prevents me from feeling drowsy and unfocused. After much experimenting, lighting has been better at keeping my focus than any amount of coffee or food, hence my concerns.

What I am looking for preferably, is some sort of neutral, low-heat, natural lighting. Not looking for Seasonal Affecting Disorder lamps - although that's not far from the mark.

Additional side-question - do any other Paleohackers need to have substantial light (in an office setting) to be more productive?

flag	asked Jun 21 at 13:50 Joshua 19.4k●2●15●60

Thanks for asking, I'm hoping I can get some suggestions here too. I work in the center of our building under fluorescents, and I notice that if I don't get up and go outside every couple of hours, I start to just sort of... glaze over, zombify. – raney Jun 21 at 14:30

Happy Now · Answer 1 · 2012-06-21 18:40:05Z UTC

Sleep in the closet, work in the bedroom?

I would put up as many mirrors as possible to bounce light throughout the apartment.

If it is on the top floor and you have a really cool landlord, you could offer to split the cost for a Solatube, which would bring natural light directly into the closet, and it amplifies it better than straight up skylights. They aren't exactly cheap, but there are tax credits to cover part of the cost in some states.

When I've done a lot of work at night, 150 watt Reveal bulbs have helped me stay focused and awake. I had two in cheap torchier lamps, one on each side of my work table, and it provided a good amount of bluish, more like daylight quality light.

Dahl · Answer 2 · 2012-06-21 16:44:28Z UTC

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I would take a look at solux bulbs. I know several artists who use them because of the quality of light.

answered Jun 21 at 16:44

Dahl
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Philosopher · Answer 3 · 2012-06-21 16:27:50Z UTC

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When I faced similar dilemmas, I always tried to work at a place with natural light, even if it meant working on my own bedroom or even by the kitchen. I never found any artificial light that makes me feel even one tenth as well as the real, natural light...I doubt whether there is anything like that....

answered Jun 21 at 16:27

Philosopher
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There are sunlamps. We bought one for my grandfather when he was too weak to go outside on his own. It worked pretty well, but I don't recall much about it. – MathGirl72 Jun 21 at 16:41

Dragonfly · Answer 4 · 2012-06-21 15:25:26Z UTC

Personally, I would work in the room with the best light, even if it's the living room & sleep in the closet (as long as I could keep it cool!

If you really have to work in a windowless room, you may want to try LED bulbs. Spendy ($35 each), but they last a LOOOOOONG time and use very little electricity, while putting out very little heat. There may be a cheaper source than my link. I haven't shopped for bulbs for over 3 years.

MathGirl72 · Answer 5 · 2012-06-21 14:47:05Z UTC

I found mercury-free bulbs at Lowe's that emit a "cool" light instead of a "warm" light. When I am working late into the night, I stay much more alert and focused. It reminds me of sunlight streaming through the window.

I literally stood in the light bulb aisle for an hour reading all of the boxes, trying to decide which one would be best. The ones I got were about $15 each, but fit into a standard socket and are supposed to last for some absurd amount of time, like 18,000 hours.

Natural Lighting in a windowless room?

5 Answers