The Goldilocks Theory
Remember the children’s story, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears?”
Goldilocks crashes the bears’ home and then proceeds to judge the “rightness” of their porridge, their chairs, and their beds.” She notoriously utters the phrase, “Too hot. Too cold. Just right.”
Who knew that a fictional character would be so right about the effect of temperature on our bodies and our minds?
Finding “just right” temperatures is essential to our physical and mental health! Here are 4 reasons we need “just right” temperatures!
ONE: Being too hot increases your Cortisol level
What happens when you get “too hot?”
Rising temperatures trigger stress responses, which in turn, elevate our cortisol levels.
Cortisol is a natural biochemical made by your adrenal gland. It is the main stress hormone in your body. Rising cortisol levels can make you feel edgy and agitated. Too much cortisol can cause headaches, anxiety, weight gain, and problems sleeping and concentrating.
Our parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for promoting calmness and relaxation, becomes less active at higher temperatures, leaving us vulnerable to stress.
A 2022 study found that hospital ER visits for mental health conditions rise during extremely hot days. Substance abuse, anxiety, mood disorders, and schizophrenia all increase when temperatures soar
TWO: Being too hot decreases your thinking ability and your productivity
Our brains don’t escape the heat’s influence. Spikes in temperature impair sleep and disrupt brain neurotransmitter function. The result? Direct hits to our cognitive function and productivity at work, school, and home.
In a 2018 study, young adults residing in college dormitories faced a heatwave. Some enjoyed central air conditioning, maintaining a pleasant 71°F. Others endured rooms without AC, sweating it out at around 80°F.
Across two weeks, they participated in cognitive tests. The warmer dorm dwellers consistently displayed lower performance levels. Basic math tests and the Stroop test (which assesses cognitive processing) became uphill battles.
Being too hot is not a good thing!
THREE: The “Just Right” Zone
Productivity in the workplace follows a Goldilocks principle.
When the air temperature hovers around 72 degrees, we’re at our peak efficiency. But as the mercury climbs into the mid-70s, productivity wanes. Our ability to think clearly, quickly, and efficiently melts away like an ice cream cone in the sun.
The optimal temperature for human productivity, the “Just Right” Zone, is between 69.8 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the temperature in an office rises above 77 degrees, it’s “too hot.” Studies have proven that for every degree over 77, worker productivity decreases by 2.2%.
FOUR: Being “too cold” Is just as bad As being “too hot”
If you’ve ever gone to a restaurant or theater in the heat of the summer, you know that sometimes it feels like you’re stepping into the Arctic. While everyone wants to stay cool, being “too cold” is just as bad as being “too hot.”
Science has proven that temperatures colder than 64 degrees Fahrenheit inflame the lungs and inhibit blood circulation. The World Health Organization recommends a minimum of 64.4 degrees for healthy, appropriately dressed people, and a minimum of 68 degrees for the elderly, infants, or the ill.
Prolonged exposure to freezing air can lead to muscle contracture, causing joint pain and discomfort.
Cold, dry air exacerbates asthma symptoms, making breathing difficult. It also dries out the mucus membranes in our mouth and nose, leaving us susceptible to infections.
Even bedrooms - which should be kept cooler than the rest of the house to promote good sleep – shouldn’t be kept lower than 64 degrees. Most doctors recommend keeping the bedroom temperature between 65 and 68 degrees.
ServiceOne has gotten “Just Right” temperatures down to an art form!
Finding and maintaining your “just right” temperature is important to you, so it’s important to you.
ServiceOne understands air conditioning and heating and can help you achieve your perfect temperature. New thermostats. Zonal controls. High-efficiency equipment. Routine maintenance. Whatever it takes to make you comfortable, we can deliver.
Call us. You’ll never again be too hot or too cold. You’ll always be in the “just right” temperature zone!