The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light • Hacker News Board

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#291

Post by zerealshadowban » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 6:14 PM UTC

PascLeRasc wrote: post #263

leesec wrote: post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're probably well aware of this, but Vitamin D supplements have been life changing for me. There was an article a while back pleading to the FDA to fix the recommended daily limit, suggesting it might be 10x too low. I take 10,000 IU a day and the difference is very noticeable.

I get pretty significant SAD and 5000 IUs of Vitamin D helps a lot, but it's not enough for me. I'm planning to move to somewhere else in a year or two, maybe Seattle.

Seattle is North enough that the sun sinks too low for your skin to be able to produce vitamin D between mid-September and mid-March!

The May-August period has very few clouds and a not-too-hot sun, so that is a fine season from the point of view of spending time outdoors and letting your skin work for your body.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#292

Post by another-cuppa » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 6:16 PM UTC

legohead wrote: post #243

another-cuppa wrote: post #88

I think some comments are missing the point. I used to work in an office that definitely had "natural light" because it did have windows, but the view from the windows was basically just other grey buildings about 10 metres away. I now work in an office where I can look out and see grass, trees, and the sky, and it's much nicer.

How much does it improve your work experience? I have the same view, but we have all the window blinds closed because it's too much light, causes glare on people's monitors, etc. Personally I'd much rather have free lunches or unlimited PTO.

It's hard to say because there are many other things that are better any my current office. Having the nice view outside certainly isn't a bad thing. At home I work in classic geek style darkness, though.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#293

Post by laythea » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 6:19 PM UTC

coaxial wrote: post #110

staz wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Next perk they gonna get is "breathable air"

Well, you already have "ping pong tables", "snacks", "disrupting the world" and "open space floor plan" listed as perks quite often, so why not. It is a perk as opposed to no breathing air, so...

I would not read a job advert for a company with "ping pong tables" and think that's a company I would like to work for. I don't wake up in the morning to go play ping pong! No more ping pong please ! :)

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#294

Post by laythea » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 6:34 PM UTC

hakkoru wrote: post #111

I work in a SCIF. The most natural light I get at my desk is the sun peeking out of the blinds in the morning. In addition, we keep most of the lights off, for that underground bunker aesthetic I'm assuming. One of the SCIFs here doesn't even have windows. I don't mind it that much, and I usually leave work while the sun is still out. I can see some people having an issue with it, however.

Although I could easily google it, I am surely not the only one who has no idea what a SCIF is, and would have appreciated it to be broken out. Otherwise I have no idea what your talking about.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#295

Post by el_benhameen » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 6:35 PM UTC

TheCapn wrote: post #195

My personal experience/preference is merely that a "change of scenery" is a highly favorable perk. I have a private office with a window, and after struggling against code for long enough it is so nice to turn my gaze outside and watch the dog park next door. But I say scenery change, because one of my favorite things about my job is that I work off site frequently at industrial plants, agricultural facilities and th…

I've always thought it would be cool to be a dev who goes onsite or at least has a job that's physical in some capacity. How'd you end up in your role, if you don't mind me asking?

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#296

Post by sixstringtheory » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 6:51 PM UTC

artursapek wrote: post #287

devmunchies wrote: post #282

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would you use avg sunlight per day? Thats takes the avg sunlight per year and maps it onto a daily avg, which is useless as a metric. You want sunny days per year. Which Seattle gets less than 90. Most cities in California get over 200.

Denver/Boulder area gets 300!

Came here to say, CO is sunny as all get out. Spent the last year in the San Luis Valley, which gets 350! Although it’s really rural, so you make some tradeoffs. I could probably live there forever :)

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#297

Post by 2sk21 » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 7:12 PM UTC

Legogris wrote: post #14

Am I the only one here who actually likes it dark? It might be healthier with natural light, but my personal preferences has always been darkness. I wonder if it is related to coming from a northern country (Scandinavia) where ~1/4 of the year is really dark.

I'm from a bright sunny tropical country and I prefer working in dimly lit windowless offices. i think this cuts across all ethnic groups!

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#298

Post by hindsightbias » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 7:13 PM UTC

hakkoru wrote: post #111

I work in a SCIF. The most natural light I get at my desk is the sun peeking out of the blinds in the morning. In addition, we keep most of the lights off, for that underground bunker aesthetic I'm assuming. One of the SCIFs here doesn't even have windows. I don't mind it that much, and I usually leave work while the sun is still out. I can see some people having an issue with it, however.

Why would a SCIF have outside windows?

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#299

Post by CryoLogic » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 7:35 PM UTC

PascLeRasc wrote: post #263

leesec wrote: post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're probably well aware of this, but Vitamin D supplements have been life changing for me. There was an article a while back pleading to the FDA to fix the recommended daily limit, suggesting it might be 10x too low. I take 10,000 IU a day and the difference is very noticeable.

I get pretty significant SAD and 5000 IUs of Vitamin D helps a lot, but it's not enough for me. I'm planning to move to somewhere else in a year or two, maybe Seattle.

Seattle might have a decent yearly average of sunlight hours/day, but during the winter there are often weeks to months of almost no direct sunlight due to the overcast.

Re: The #1 Office Perk? Natural Light

#300

Post by juanuys » Wed, Sep 05, 2018, 7:45 PM UTC

dasmoth wrote: post #18

Natural light is good, but the office isn't the place I crave it the most. And as other have alluded to, I'd much rather have a dingy personal cave than a bright but shared space. So #1 perk for me: enough schedule flexibility that I can ensure I can have some outdoor time during daylight hours every day, even in winter.

Yes, this is why I try and get WFH gigs over winter so I can do a lunch-time run. Getting up at 6AM in winter for a run isn't going to happen ;-)