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28
Feb 2012

Making the Most of Your Time at Work

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January and February can be difficult month for many people, especially at work.  They feel unfocused, unproductive, and possibly even depressed.    The holidays are long gone, as is the excitement and feelings of hope for the new year.  People may even feel bummed that they’ve already missed their new year resolutions.  Throw in typical office distractions, and frustration just rises.  If you feel distracted, unproductive, or even down and depressed, please know you are not alone.  Most workers are distracted, and millions are depressed this time of year.  Keep reading for some tips on dealing with distraction/ lack of productivity and depression.

Dealing with Distraction

First, let’s deal with distraction.  The average worker is distracted 2 hours every day.  Being that distracted makes you unfocused, prone to mistakes and high levels of stress.  Interestingly, a lot of distraction is due to office noise, namely conversations.  An easy way to deal with conversational distraction is to use a sound machine which emits very low-level white noise so that you can tune out it and the surrounding noise to get back to work.

Dealing with Depression

Next, let’s talk about depression.  Depression is not a fun thing to talk about, but it’s important to know that Seasonal Affective Disorder affects millions of Americans.  It’s a form of depression that occurs in the winter months, and usually due to lack of sunlight.  Like sound masking, an equally simple solution is light therapy .  Try a “happy light” at your desk to literally brighten up your mood because the light replicates the rays of the sun.  It’s surprising how much a little light can do for your peace of mind.

If you struggle with distraction (and you do) or seasonal depression, try out sound masking system and/or light therapy for low-cost, easy to use solutions.

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23
Feb 2012

Sound Machine Options for Distracted Workers

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Distractions & Sound Machines

If you’re reading this, it probably means that you’re distracted at work.  Don’t worry (well, you kind of should worry at least a little bit), you are not alone.  The average worker suffers from distraction at least 2 hours every day.  While internet and cell phones account for some of this distraction, surprisingly enough they are not the main culprits.  What is, you ask?  Office noise, namely conversational distraction.  Whether it’s your own conversation or someone else’s, office chatting is just plain distracting because it perks your ears up and your mind off work.  Once you’ve turned your attention back to work, you’ve lost both time and your train of thought.

How can you deal with conversational distraction?  Well, besides setting some personal boundaries and maybe having some tough boundaries with colleagues, there is something you can do that can help you literally tune out many distractions: a sound machine.

Sound machines are great because, unlike music, the white noise employed by sound machines doesn’t add to the distraction. As fun as it to jam to your favorite songs, most of the time, that music just makes focused working harder.  In contrast, a sound machine drowns out background noise so that you can focus on work instead of co-worker chatter or gossip. And don’t worry, you don’t have to blare the machine to achieve a sound barrier.  White noise is effective at a low level.  And just so we’re clear, this isn’t just a nice idea; studies show that they can help you keep your focus and feel less stressed.  More specifically, studies have found that offices that utilized white noise showed an average of 48% improvement in their ability to focus on tasks, a 51% improvement in elimination of distractions (especially overheard conversations), and a 27% improvement in lowered stress levels.

  • A small portable option for a white noise machine is the Sound Oasis Travel White Noise Therapy System.  I like to think of this as the Mighty Mouse of the sound machines. It is tiny in stature, but can beat up all the big distractions keeping you from doing what you are supposed to be doing–working. Even better, since it’s portable, you can take it home with you to help you get better sleep at night.

  • If you don’t want a portable option, the Sound Oasis Deluxe Office White Noise System is a nice option. It’s not as small as the travel sound machine, but it does have a lot more features, including 20 main sounds & 5 mix sounds create 120 sound environment possibilities.
  • If you aren’t convinced and would just like to try it out, you could try a free online white noise generator. Just keep it open in a background browser window and you’ll be well on your way to working–without as much distraction and stress.

Sound machines have been shown to improve focus and tune out distraction.  It’s an easy fix for a costly problem at work.

 

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16
Feb 2012

March Madness Driving You Mad?

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March Madness

March Madness is around the corner.  You might be counting down the days and hours, or you might be dreading the time suck this season inevitably is.  Before I say fightin’ words, all I’m saying is that there is a time and a place for basketball and championship games, and it’s my opinion that work is not the place.  While some may enjoy all the buzz surrounding the games, others like me resent the distraction.  Now I don’t mind others watching the games, but when a whole crowd groups around one cubicle, they can’t help but draw a lot of attention.  This is very frustrating to me since I’d like nothing more than to be able to get my work done.

I realize that this is a minority opinion indeed.  And I have no intention of making enemies in the office by suggesting they turn off the game.  I would like to be able to concentrate, though.  That is why, once again, I am a huge fan of my portable sound machine.  It enables me to tune out noisy distractions, such as basketball games and the ensuing chaos in which the office erupts with every basket, while maintaining good relationships with my co-workers.  Plus, the white noise is very low-level, so it doesn’t offer others distraction in return, making me a hypocrite.  In fact, most sound machines are quite adjustable and some even adapt to the environment, turning up as noise levels go up, and back down as they decrease, as well.  Certainly all machines can be turned off, as well, when unnecessary.  You can even select traditional white noise (a hum like an HVAC) or nature sounds if they are preferable to you.  Regardless of your preferences, sound machines these days are quite customizable so that each person gets what he or she needs in the moment.

A sound machine is a reasonable means of dealing with distraction that does not make workers resentful.

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14
Feb 2012

New Baby: Enter White Noise

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Bringing Home Baby

We just had our third child.  Thank you for the congratulations.  ;)  Those of you who have had babies, though, might be subtly letting out a sigh of relief that it wasn’t you this time.  Don’t get me wrong, babies really are a blessing, and we are super-excited….mostly about sleeping through the night again and not juggling 3 tiny people’s schedules.  Since this isn’t my first time with a baby, I know those times are coming.  For now, though, we are having to survive.  And part of surviving is minimizing chaos in our home.  Babies do sleep through a lot, but in a small flat with hard wood floors and 2 older, but still small kids, it’s a lot to expect.  Especially when the 3 and 5 year olds’ friends are over.  It doesn’t matter how many times you remind them to be quiet, they don’t remember.  So, instead of killing the older kids and throwing in the towel on the baby’s naps, I opted for a sound machine.

How Sound Machines Protect Sleep

Sound machines, also known as white noise generators, add a low-level background noise wherever they’re placed.  They serve the family by providing a protective sound  barrier between whoever is trying to sleep and everyone else who is wide awake!  For our family, we have used sound machines for a variety of reasons:

  • to protect the baby’s sleep from ambient {ambient=the big kids} noise
  • to protect the big kids’ sleep from the baby crying at night
  • when we roomed the 2 big kids together
  • when we want to sleep in while the kids play/watch a movie
  • when one parent wants to nap
  • when one child needs to nap but can’t tune out all the fun going on around him/her
Thus, if you’re in the early years of parenting, one of the best investments you could make is a sound machine.  It protects everyone’s sleep and makes big transitions (such as bringing home a new baby or rooming kids together for the first time) much smoother.
Categories: Tips and Tricks
03
Feb 2012

A Valentine’s Gift of Sleep

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Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and you may be scurrying in your attempts to think of a gift.  Possibly you’re in the beginning of a relationship in which a well-planned date or a lovely bouquet of flowers will be just the thing to express your feelings.  Or perhaps you are farther along in your relationship, like me, in which great dates and flowers have been done- and done well at that.  So, what’s a guy or girl to do?  What’s a seasoned spouse  to do for their 10th or 15th Valentine’s Day?

Can I tell you what I want?  More than a night out or a new bauble, I want sleep.  I’m not kidding.  I’m on my third baby, and while my experience has increased, my energy has not.  Taking care of three small children is rewarding, but draining nonetheless.  So, more than anything right now, I’d like to sleep longer than 4 hours at a time.  While my husband is incredibly kind and generous and would no doubt grant me my wish, he cannot still my mind and calm my worry.  That is to say, he cannot make the house quiet or help me not to be anxious about how everyone is doing without, well, me.

The solution we’ve found for these situations is a sound machine.  Please believe me- sound machines have saved our marriage by blocking noise- from each other, from our older kids, and between our children.  When we’ve had to let kids “cry it out” even the timers on our sound machines have given us a break for the greater good.  Thus, that is what I want this Valentine’s Day- a date with my sound machine!  Whether it’s a long, uninterrupted nap, or a 6-hour stretch at night where my husband is at the helm with a bottle in his hand, I’d love to be blissfully unaware.

If you’re looking for a gift your spouse will really appreciate, consider safeguarding your marriage with a sound machine!

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02
Feb 2012

Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder

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It’s the new year, Christmas has come and gone, and so have your bright spirits.  While the absence of  stress of the holidays may be a welcome relief, you are not alone if you feel “down.”  In fact, millions of Americans suffer from mild to severe depression during the winter.  It’s called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or abbreviated to SAD.  It may sneak up on you unexpectedly, or you may have learned to expect this depression the cold, long winter months.  Regardless of whether it’s new or a long-time, unwelcome friend, it’s important to know you are not alone and that there are some remedies.

First, answer the following questions:

  • Am I feeling depressed, but only during the winter months?
  • Am I tired and am I sleeping more than usual?
  • Do I feel anxious for seemingly no reason?
If it’s winter time and you answered yes to any of the above, you might be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.  Keep reading for a simple definition, symptoms to watch out for, and how to treat SAD.

What is SAD?

Seasonal Affective Disorder, often referred to as SAD, is a form of depression that comes with winter and leaves with spring.  Essentially it hits as daylight wanes and the days get shorter. As much as one-fifth of Americans suffer from SAD, the most frequent victims are those who live up north or in high altitudes since the days are even shorter there.

What are the Symptoms of SAD?

  •  Depression
  • Increased fatigue
  • Sleeping more than usual
  • Feelings of anxiety

How Can I treat SAD?

It’s usually wise to speak to your healthcare provider, especially in regard to depression. In addition to getting medical help if necessary, there is a natural remedy that helps many bridge the gap between their feelings and reality.  A natural way to treat SAD is to try light therapy which involves purchasing a special light which replicates the rays of the sun. The person suffering from SAD sits in front of this light with their eyes open. This light is not found in normal incandescent household lights and must be purchased exclusively for this type of therapy.  The light can be moved from room to room or even taken to the office.  A great bonus for light therapy is that it can be bought over the counter and does not have side effects.  It may sound simplistic, but getting a feel of the “sun” truly does brighten moods.

Whatever type of therapy you decide to try in your battle against Seasonal Affective Disorder, it is important to keep in mind that it is treatable. Light therapy is one of the most straightforward and natural solutions for people who suffer from this disorder.

Categories: Tips and Tricks