As more workplaces embrace open spaces, workers are faced with the issue of distracting noise in the office. While coworking and collaborative office layouts can help foster creativity and provide opportunities to connect across teams, the increase in distractions disrupt your focus. How can you rise above the din? Here are some useful tips to keep the collaborative spirit of your open workspace without sacrificing your productivity.
Managing Distractions
Some of the best ways to eliminate noise are to make use of spaces that are versatile enough to manage noisier activities alongside productive spaces. Encourage people to take lunch hours out to more sheltered common areas or even outside of the office. Reserve separate spaces for meetings even for small groups of people so that the others around you are not disturbed by conversation.
Alternatively, if the office setup is an open working space or a coworking area where conversation is abundant, try allotting a time for “quiet working”, perhaps for an hour a day for noise reduction.
Headphones are popular in open environments, but can be a double edged sword. Research shows that listening to instrumental or classical music without lyrics can help maintain focus, and that even listening to a familiar song on repeat can help you dial in. Faster beats and louder instruments can help you stay energized and productive in the mornings.
