Lighting for workplaces and schools is typically specified to meet the needs of the visual system without sufficient regard to the lighting characteristics that are required by the human circadian system. In 2020, many workers and students were compelled by the COVID-19 pandemic to work and study from home, where light levels are typically even lower than those found in most schools and workplaces. Using online surveys, this study sought to quantify potential changes in daytime light exposures resulting from teleworking or self-isolating at home and how those changes might have affected self-reported sleep quality, psychological health and emotional health. The first survey was administered in early May 2020, and the second survey was administered in September 2020. In broad terms, our analysis indicates that the greater the amount of light one is exposed to during the day (either in the home or outdoors), the better the self-reported sleep outcomes. Stress and mood were also correlated with greater self-reported daytime light exposures. The results suggest that spending one to two hours outdoors or staying in a bright to very bright room indoors may improve night-time sleep. These results have important implications for daytime lighting in homes, offices and schools.

工作场所和学校的照明通常被指定为满足视觉系统的需求，而没有充分考虑人类昼夜节律系统所需的照明特性。2020 年，COVID-19 大流行迫使许多工人和学生在家工作和学习，那里的光照水平通常甚至低于大多数学校和工作场所的光照水平。通过在线调查，本研究试图量化因远程工作或在家自我隔离而导致的白天光照的潜在变化，以及这些变化可能如何影响自我报告的睡眠质量、心理健康和情绪健康。第一次调查于 2020 年 5 月上旬进行，第二次调查于 2020 年 9 月进行。我们的分析表明，一个人在白天（无论是在家里还是在户外）接触的光线越多，自我报告的睡眠结果就越好。压力和情绪也与自我报告的日间光照量更大有关。结果表明，在户外呆一到两个小时或呆在明亮到非常明亮的室内房间可能会改善夜间睡眠。这些结果对家庭、办公室和学校的白天照明具有重要意义。