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This is great to see, for I've been wondering lately why being outdoors is more pleasant (in clement weather) than indoors. Is it the unpredictability? the humi

This is great to see, for I've been wondering lately why being outdoors is more pleasant (in clement weather) than indoors. Is it the unpredictability? the humidity? the noises? the sunlight? In that same vein, I've wondered how to simulate outdoor conditions inside, especially something approximating more light, in part because I think a family-member is mildly susceptible to seasonal affective disorder. I can't wait to see what the author has to say.

dan-robertson 7y ago
I’ve also been wondering this lately. In particular if I’m feeling slightly ill, I feel much better outdoors. At least in my experience, it isn’t necessarily sunlight as I think it’s also better at night. And it isn’t super “fresh” air or hearing birdsong or the wind rustling through trees (positive things I associate with being outdoors) as I live in a city. I hadn’t thought about humidity. Currently my best guesses are: - a correlation between being outdoors and stood up and moving - colder temperature (but I guess in the summer when it’s not stifling it can be preferable to be out so maybe this is wrong) - some psychological/placebo effect - less CO2 in the air. I can’t really put any numbers to this hypothesis as I don’t have a meter.
darkmighty 7y ago
Obligatory Tom Scott video on indoor CO2 levels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nh_vxpycEA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nh_vxpycEA (or the studies themselves https://www.gwern.net/docs/co2/2015-stafford.pdf https://www.gwern.net/docs/co2/2015-stafford.pdf and others) I.e. I think air quality is likely a big factor. When it's windy and I get good airflow through my room it doesn't feel as different from outside. It's probably not only CO2, but also dust, VOCs, funghi, microorganisms, etc.
Simon_says 7y ago
My guess is more sunlight, less CO2.
simple_phrases 7y ago
Furniture, flooring and carpeting contribute towards indoor air pollution. For example, glues used in laminate flooring can release formaldehyde into the air for decades at room temperature or warmer.

dan-robertson 7y ago

I’ve also been wondering this lately. In particular if I’m feeling slightly ill, I feel much better outdoors. At least in my experience, it isn’t necessarily sunlight as I think it’s also better at night. And it isn’t super “fresh” air or hearing birdsong or the wind rustling through trees (positive things I associate with being outdoors) as I live in a city. I hadn’t thought about humidity. Currently my best guesses are: - a correlation between being outdoors and stood up and moving - colder temperature (but I guess in the summer when it’s not stifling it can be preferable to be out so maybe this is wrong) - some psychological/placebo effect - less CO2 in the air. I can’t really put any numbers to this hypothesis as I don’t have a meter.

darkmighty 7y ago

Obligatory Tom Scott video on indoor CO2 levels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nh_vxpycEA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nh_vxpycEA (or the studies themselves https://www.gwern.net/docs/co2/2015-stafford.pdf https://www.gwern.net/docs/co2/2015-stafford.pdf and others) I.e. I think air quality is likely a big factor. When it's windy and I get good airflow through my room it doesn't feel as different from outside. It's probably not only CO2, but also dust, VOCs, funghi, microorganisms, etc.

Simon_says 7y ago

My guess is more sunlight, less CO2.

simple_phrases 7y ago

Furniture, flooring and carpeting contribute towards indoor air pollution. For example, glues used in laminate flooring can release formaldehyde into the air for decades at room temperature or warmer.