With 2020 hailed by many as ‘the worst year ever’, many people in the South East say their mental wellbeing is at an all-time low this Blue Monday, a new study has revealed.
According to stark new research by NICEIC, the UK’s leading name for registered electrical contractors, a disturbing 60% of those polled in the South East have confessed that the shorter days and darker nights this winter are negatively impacting their mental health.
Faced with another national lockdown, over half (53%) of crisis-weary South East residents revealed they felt gloomy about the prospect of spending more time at home this winter, with almost one third (28%) of people in Chelmsford saying they felt anxious and fearful, 36% feeling isolated and a quarter (24%) feeling burnt out and exhausted.
What’s more, with many homebound Brits working from makeshift offices in kitchens or spare bedrooms since last year, poor lighting in the home is making matters worse. Almost two thirds (60%) of respondents in Chelmsford admitted poor home lighting makes them feel more stressed, negatively impacts concentration levels and even their libido.
Luckily, as record spending on home improvements continues, lighting has become a key priority especially as more than a quarter (27%) of us believe good lighting makes us happier and more energetic. One in four (25%) said good home lighting makes them feel better during the winter months.
In response, and just in time for Blue Monday, the most miserable day of the year, NICEIC has launched its ‘Watts The Matter?’ campaign. The campaign highlights the positive impact brightening up your home with good lighting can have on the nation’s collective mood – while warning the public of the importance of using a registered electrical contractor for any planned electrical work.
Paul Collins, NICEIC’s Technical Services Manager, comments: ““With 2020 being one of the most challenging years in recent history, it’s unsurprising that just weeks into January, the mental wellbeing of a record number of Brits is at an all-time low this Blue Monday, including many in the South East.
“The national lockdown and the fact that huge swathes of the population are still working from home, often in makeshift offices set up in the kitchen or spare bedroom, is clearly intensifying the detrimental impact poor home lighting can have on mood.
“And while more people are recognising that better home lighting can help them get through the gloomy winter, have-a-go DIY enthusiasts must remember there’s a huge difference between fitting a new energy efficient lamp (lightbulb) and attempting to install a more sophisticated solution, which comes with potential pitfalls around electrical safety.
“As we ask the nation ‘Watts The Matter?’ this winter, our message is simple – investing in good lighting can be a real mood booster. But always use a professional, such as those electrical contractors registered with NICEIC, for any electrical work not only to keep your home and family safe but also to receive the best technical advice and expertise.”
Today’s findings come as nearly one in six (16%) homeworkers in the South East admitted that the lighting in their home office was either too dark or too light, with more than half (51%) revealing they regularly suffer from headaches, migraines or eye strain when working.
Despite this, even though nearly one half (45%) of homeworkers in the region bought a new desk, laptop, screens or printers, just 10% have upgraded their lighting to make their home offices as comfortable as possible.
This looks set to change, however, with around 83% of locals surveyed saying upgrading lighting is now equally or more important to their home as painting, laying new carpets, and buying new furniture.
Warning homeworkers to be extra vigilant on electric safety, Paul adds: “While making your lighting dream a reality has the potential to reinvigorate your wellbeing through the cold dark months, using a professional is the only way to avoid disappointment and truly ensure your new lighting really does do what it ‘says on the tin’.”
