Using LUX To Optimize Circadian Health

The intensity of light in your environment is key

In a world where we spend over 90%+ of our time indoors, the quality and type of lighting we expose ourselves to can profoundly influence our well-being. Central to understanding this is lux, a unit that measures the intensity of light perceived by the human eye. Its application spans from the sunlit outdoors to artificial indoor settings, each with distinct effects on our health, mood, and productivity.

Lux quantifies illuminance—the amount of light falling on a surface. For reference, a bright sunny day can reach around 100,000 lux, whereas typical indoor environments, like offices, might provide only 500 lux. This difference is significant when considering how our bodies, finely tuned through evolution, respond to natural light.

You get a clear idea of what this looks like via the visualization below.