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For women who work in offices, summertime brings about a typical ritual: Sweaters, scarves, and sometimes even blankets are brought to work and draped over a chair or otherwise kept in easy reach for the point in the day when a 65-degree cubicle starts to become a bit unbearable in lightweight clothing. Now a new study reported on by The Atlantic shows that this practice isn’t just comfort driven. Women are more productive in toastier temperatures.
Before you head over to a sweat lodge to brainstorm your next great idea, allow us to explain. The most recent study on this phenomenon, which was published in the journal PLOS One, tested more than 500 college students as they took different types of exams in rooms that varied in temperature, from 61 to 91 degrees. For both verbal and math tests, women performed better with warmer temperatures (even a difference of just one degree made a big difference), though men did best with cooler temperatures.
While average office temperatures hover between 68 to 76 degrees, the recommended thermostat temperature for homes in summer months is 78 degrees. That might sound a tad toasty, but a bit of discipline can help you save money on air-conditioning and help you focus better on your work.
If you’re working or studying at home, a warm, cozy environment might just be what you need to power through your to-do list. You may even want to cuddle up in a fun throw, too.
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