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This is exactly what I've been thinking about lately. The modern knowledge-worker lifestyle is practically an experiment in extreme sun deprivation. We optimize

This is exactly what I've been thinking about lately. The modern knowledge-worker lifestyle is practically an experiment in extreme sun deprivation. We optimize our indoor spaces with perfect AC, ergonomic setups, and even custom ambient noise apps just to stay locked in a room for 10 hours a day doing deep work. It makes you wonder how much of what we accept as "normal" afternoon brain fog or tech burnout is actually just our biology reacting to this massive behavioral shift and lack of natural light.

SoftTalker 4mo ago
Myopia is one that comes to mind, with data suggesting that low exposure to natural sunlight contributes. Though in my case, I played outside a lot as a kid and I still have terrible eyesight.
- stephc_int13 4mo ago
  It is not about sunlight or UV. And it is not "just genetics". The natural rest position of the human eye is to focus at the infinite. Focusing on closer objects like books or screens requires a constant effort (we don't feel it). The eye simply adapts and elongate to relieve some of the strain. Wearing corrective lenses further amplify the process. If you want your kids to have perfect vision they should spend a lot of time playing outside, until early adulthood.
  - ifwinterco 4mo ago
    Yeah I'm not sure what currently "science" says, but from first principles something along these lines must be true, because "genetics" can't explain why some places like China went from low levels of myopia to extremely high levels in a couple of generations. Clearly there's some significant environmental factor, and constantly focusing at short distances and/or getting no bright light exposure are the two obvious candidates (in other words, being inside all the time)
gnerd00 4mo ago
add night time lighting of all kinds..
myth_drannon 4mo ago
That's not recent knowledge worker problem. It started with industrial revolution and working 16 hours work days on a dark factory floor. What about Bedouins and other desert dwelling people? They had been trying to reduce sun exposure with complete body skin cover for millenias, it must have been some benefit for that. And what about skin cancer rates, it is probably reduced due to low sun exposure.
kqr 4mo ago
> afternoon brain fog Check the CO2 levels in your office. They can get ridiculously high indoors when humans gather in the same room. It's not dangerous, but it makes people tired, they stop taking initiative, and less creative.
delecti 4mo ago
We also evolved to have activity levels that vary a lot more. A neolithic human wouldn't have done 8 hours straight of labor, or slept 8 straight hours at night. A few naps throughout the day would have been common, and sleep was often split in half as well. It's one huge perk of working from home. Lying down for 20 minutes makes the rest of the day much more pleasant and productive.
throwaway743 4mo ago
Totally! iirc Germany implemented laws requiring sunlight exposure within offices so workers aren't deprived of it.
alexashka 4mo ago
We share about 99% of our DNA with chimps. Whatever we're doing that isn't what they're doing is not normal.

SoftTalker 4mo ago

Myopia is one that comes to mind, with data suggesting that low exposure to natural sunlight contributes. Though in my case, I played outside a lot as a kid and I still have terrible eyesight.

stephc_int13 4mo ago
It is not about sunlight or UV. And it is not "just genetics". The natural rest position of the human eye is to focus at the infinite. Focusing on closer objects like books or screens requires a constant effort (we don't feel it). The eye simply adapts and elongate to relieve some of the strain. Wearing corrective lenses further amplify the process. If you want your kids to have perfect vision they should spend a lot of time playing outside, until early adulthood.
- ifwinterco 4mo ago
  Yeah I'm not sure what currently "science" says, but from first principles something along these lines must be true, because "genetics" can't explain why some places like China went from low levels of myopia to extremely high levels in a couple of generations. Clearly there's some significant environmental factor, and constantly focusing at short distances and/or getting no bright light exposure are the two obvious candidates (in other words, being inside all the time)

gnerd00 4mo ago

add night time lighting of all kinds..

myth_drannon 4mo ago

That's not recent knowledge worker problem. It started with industrial revolution and working 16 hours work days on a dark factory floor. What about Bedouins and other desert dwelling people? They had been trying to reduce sun exposure with complete body skin cover for millenias, it must have been some benefit for that. And what about skin cancer rates, it is probably reduced due to low sun exposure.

kqr 4mo ago

> afternoon brain fog Check the CO2 levels in your office. They can get ridiculously high indoors when humans gather in the same room. It's not dangerous, but it makes people tired, they stop taking initiative, and less creative.

delecti 4mo ago

We also evolved to have activity levels that vary a lot more. A neolithic human wouldn't have done 8 hours straight of labor, or slept 8 straight hours at night. A few naps throughout the day would have been common, and sleep was often split in half as well. It's one huge perk of working from home. Lying down for 20 minutes makes the rest of the day much more pleasant and productive.

throwaway743 4mo ago

Totally! iirc Germany implemented laws requiring sunlight exposure within offices so workers aren't deprived of it.

alexashka 4mo ago

We share about 99% of our DNA with chimps. Whatever we're doing that isn't what they're doing is not normal.