. Office / Cubicle Noise Solutions

Workplace Noise Solutions

By: rashmiru, Date: March 28, 2008

Some of us need solitude and quiet time during the day to think clearly, to learn something new, to work through a difficult problem, to arrive at a solution. Below are a few ways in which you could get some quiet time for yourself, but don't go overboard with any of these solutions, and use your judgment to see if the solution is appropriate for your work environment.

Noise Cancellation Headphones

image courtesy of Dryicons
When the environment is noisy such as people making long and loud personal phone calls or when they are

conversing loudly about something that is not related to what you are working on you can mask the distracting conversations with headphones. Any headphones will mask the noise, but noise cancellation headphones would be more effective. Try to get headphones that are not too heavy if you plan to wear them over a long period of time. I prefer light wireless headphones because they don't restrict the movement of my neck and head and I don't feel tied to the desk. Some of us may find that listening to headphones for too long can sometimes hurt the ears, so don't go overboard - try to use the headphones only if you must and for short periods of time.
Mask The Noise With Nature Sounds or Instrumental Music Some of us may find listening to normal music is distracting as well. An alternative to regular music would be instrumental music, sounds of nature or pink noise or white noise. Sounds of nature are naturally calming, they don't have any distracting rhythems. I find that listening to nature sounds is less distracting and soothing to the ear. Look for nature sounds that are continuous (without many pauses or low sounds) so that they are effective in masking the surrounding conversations.
Pink/White Ambient Noise Some office floors have white noise or pink noise equipment. When the white noise or pink noise is turned on, it is loud and it masks the conversations to a certain extent. Ambient noise may sound like a heavy rain fall or running water or a loud brook. It is usually soothing to hear and it masks conversations. Offices use it for conversation privacy when people are talking across cubicles.
Air Tight Ear Plugs Some of us may be too sensitive to any type of noise, even if

it the sound comes from our own music player. Try wearing air tight ear plugs, similar to the ones used by swimmers to prevent water entering their ears. I find that mold able silicone ear plugs are air tight and reduce the noise significantly. But don't wear ear plugs for too long.
A Fan A strong fan can dampen the noise as well, but the fan itself makes a steady noise. Try to get a fan that is quieter. The drawbacks of having a fan is that other's may not like it. It consumes electricity. Also some people don't like the breeze.
Empty Conference Rooms/ Cubicles If your workstation is a desktop, take a notebook with you to an empty conference room or an empty office space where it is quieter and write down your thoughts. If someone has scheduled a meeting in that room, you'll have to vacate it when the member of a meeting arrive.
Make Work Portable If you have been given a notebook (laptop), then take it to a quieter location to finish your thoughts and get your work done and return to your desk, to make yourself available for others.
Write Down Your Thoughts Write down your work to do list, or the problem you are working on. Later when the environment gets quieter, look back at what you've written and then think through it. Writing down your thoughts will also relieve your mind from switching between a distracting loud noise and the thought that is currently on your mind.
Become Less Sensitive To Noise / Improve Focus Do activities in your personal time to rejuvenate yourself. Go on hikes, long walks. Socialize with others. Do yoga and meditation. Participate in outdoor and indoor games and sports. All these activities will fill your brain with pleasant experiences to reflect back on. These activities will also take your mind away from the stress you may feel from work or your personal life, and will help you focus better at work.

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Good Effects Of Workplace Conversations

Workplace conversations help us assimilate the culture of the work environment.
Listening to other conversations would help in learning from others or realize that a solution is really simple.
Workplace conversations help us get to know each other and understand what a person's role is.
Conversations may help in building a team and may promote synergy that helps everyone work towards a common goal.

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Bad Effects Of Workplace Noise

For some of us, a noisy environment makes it difficult and sometimes impossible to think through a new/unfamiliar problem or a difficult problem.
Near by loud, clear and long converstations are distracting, our brain has to work twice or thrice as hard to bring our attention and focus back to our work.
Other people's (long) conversations could be a waste of time for some of us if it is irrelevant.

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Why All This Noise

Long and loud personal phone calls.
Loud music.
Loud and clear conversations.
Loud speaker phones with music on hold waiting for the other side to respond.
Conference on a speaker phone when only one or two people are involved.

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Avoid This

These are my suggestions give in good faith. You are free to ignore them or take them, but use your own judgment.

Avoid Directly Complaining About The Noise: From my experience complaints of any sort are usually frowned upon (by anyone) in a work environment.

In many work places, everyone may be expected to be more tolerant towards a noisy environment, in cases where teamwork and group synergy is emphasized. If a person seeks solitude too often, that person may appear isolated and not a team player to others. Try not going overboard with avoiding noise.
Avoid Asking For A Change In Work Location: Asking to be moved to a different location or expressing that you were seated somewhere else may also sound like you are complaining about noise or work environment in general and these types of requests are not received well either.
Avoid Asking For An Office Room: Even if there's an empty office room or empty cubicles avoid asking for these, again this sounds like your are complaining so it will not be received well by anyone.
Avoid Any Indirect Statements About Noise: Any posters, bookmarks, mugs with any hints of "Silence", "Shh... I'm trying to read" etc. won't work. They may only make the noise worse.
Don't Go Overboard With Solitude: Most jobs require us to be team players, so if someone approaches you while you are listening to your favorite music or if you just want to be left alone to do your work and if you don't respond to their request to speak with you, the person may get offended. Always be available to others especially if they are approaching you with anything that is work related.

Be considerate of those who may need to have work related conversations, they may be discussing business requirements, working on a solution or transitioning knowledge etc.
Avoid Contributing To The Noise: Take your personal phone calls away from the work area, away from everyone. If you must take a personal phone call try to keep it as short as possible.

Avoid putting the speaker phone on hold while waiting for customer service.

Avoid using the speaker phone when the majority of the people in the room are not involved with the conference call.