The Surprising Thermostat Temperature That Makes Women The Most Productive

Whether you're implementing the Pomodoro, Kanban, or The Eisenhower Method, there are several productivity hacks you can try to stay on task and get things done. One hack that's starting to gain momentum doesn't involve any tricks or gimmicks and is all about the temperature in the room — literally. Neurohacker and brain researcher Elizabeth Ricker, author of "Smarter Tomorrow," told MindBodyGreen that temperature regulation can play a big role in workplace performance, particularly for women.

While men are more productive when the thermostat is set closer to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, women are able to put their best foot forward when the temperature is around 75-77 degrees Fahrenheit. The science is based on a 2019 study published in PLOS One in which 543 participants had their performance evaluated during a series of sessions. In between sessions, the temperature was shifted. The research found that the women's performance significantly increased during warmer temperatures. Though men performed better in cooler temperatures, their performance decreased just slightly.

Don't crank up the heat just yet

Though Ricker tells MindBodyGreen that women are more productive when the thermostat is set between 75 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit, she says that a room that's too hot can have some drawbacks for both men and women. Her warning is based on a 2020 study published in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. During this study, a group of students taking China's National College Entrance Examination were analyzed by a group of researchers. The students were taking their test during a heatwave sans any air conditioning. The higher the temperature rose, the lower the students scored on their tests.

With that in mind, Ricker advises to be mindful and make sure it's not too hot. "Your brain just can't function if it's outside a particular temperature range," she told MindBodyGreen. It's likely that setting the thermostat between 75 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit won't pose the same threats the students faced, but it's a good idea to pay attention to what your body is telling you it needs in order to perform its best.