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21
May 2013

Using White Noise to Recover Lost Time

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#distractedinbarnesandnoble

Rows and rows of cubicles, or even worse, shared trading-style tables, with little space and certainly no privacy are what the modern office offers most workers.

Man, it is hard to quiet the noise (without and within) to spend a few moments in silence and solitude! {Facebook}

Still expected to work productively, workers are faced with few alternatives.  Some suffer through it, their ears pricking at every nearby voice, others try to book a conference room for their own space, and still others flee…what a sad fact, that workers have to leave work to get any work done.  It’s not surprising in that the average worker is distracted more than 2 hours every day!  And the culprit is conversational distraction, or as “overheard conversation” as  workers called their biggest complaint.  That’s why many workers work outside the office- if they can escape the cubicle farm, then maybe they can escape the noisy effects.  Unfortunately, conversational distraction is not exclusive to offices:

To the two girls sitting across from me: We all get it. You’re the only two people in your office who do any work in your office. You’ve been BLATHERING ON about it for 30 minutes. Maybe it’s time to go back there and show everyone else how awesome you are? LOTS of Love, The Girl in the Corner Booting Up Her Favorite White Noise Channel… {Facebook post made from Barnes & Noble}

Recovering Lost Time with White Noise

Love that it's portable any very small, yet offers tons of options.

Love that it’s portable any very small, yet offers tons of options.

The first friend mentions how hard it is to find a serene peace of mind in which to even think, let alone function.  The second comments on a common issue- how annoying and distracting conversation is, both within and outside of the work place.  The irony is that while those ladies were bragging about their work ethic, they were distracting people trying to work at a coffee shop, while simultaneously not working themselves!

So, in honor of my friend who never works in the confines of an actual office, here are several white noise options:

  1. Free white noise generator.  Anyone can use this online generator for free and can even customize it.  It is ideal for a quick work session at a coffee shop or bookstore or anywhere else you’d rather not have to pack up an extra item.
  2. Portable sound machine.  I love portable sound machines because I can use them at home and on the road, for work and for sleep.

If you’re tried of losing hours a day to preventable problems such a noise, then be sure to try a white noise generator or portable sound machine.

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14
May 2013

5 Tips for Working More Creatively & Productively

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Staring at a blank screen, or even worse a few lame words that I feel married to but should probably divorce with a view for fresher ideas…when I drum my fingers or tap my pencil or check Facebook for the billionth time for a worthy distraction…that is when I know I need some inspiration.  And that inspiration rarely comes in the form of an unfriendly screen, its blank face reminding me of all the work I am not getting done.  I have a sneaking suspicion that I am not alone in my worker’s block.  In fact, based on my social media dawdlings, I am definitely not alone.  Distracted, unmotivated, discouraged people are not exactly productive or creative people.  So, here are 5 tips for getting the creative juices flowing.

5 Tips for Working More Creatively & Productively

  1. You can even choose soothing nature sounds.

    You can even choose soothing nature sounds.

    While your spontaneous side might balk at the idea of a schedule, setting aside specific time to work might help you organize yourself just enough to free your brain to work on something for work.

  2. Take a break.  Staring at a blank screen or a meager document that isn’t writing itself doesn’t usually encourage the creative juices to run.  Take a short walk, grab some coffee or a diet coke, catch some fresh air, take an early lunch…find a way to catch a few moments to yourself to take a breather.  Breaks also give your eyes and muscles time to re-focus and stretch out.
  3. Block out distractions.  For some, it’s as simple as not being able to hear themselves think.  If you don’t have the luxury of having your own office or work space, you can try a sound machine.  There are many varieties, each meant to help the brain tune out unnecessary noise.  There are even nature sound machines that just might help you feel relaxed and more able to tackle more challenging tasks on your to-do list.
  4. Work on something else.  Chances are, you’ll have an “aha!’ moment if you quit obsessing about the task needing to be done.  Plus, you’ll get something else crossed off in the mean time.
  5. Day dream.  In direct contradiction to common sense and even #3, allow your mind to wander.  Giving your mind some freedom is not only well-deserved, it is also linked to better problem-solving results.

The main thing to keep in mind is you are on the expert on you.  You might have an instinct on what might or might not jump start your work day.  Experiment a little at a time, but know yourself and do what works for you.  Here’s to a brilliant “aha!” moment {or several} in your very near future!

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01
May 2013

Sound Masking for Social Breaches of Etiquette

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Two Facebook posts from the past few days on my news feed:

The latest Barnes and Noble shenanigan: the lady next to me is reading her e-mail out loud. Listen, lady- I feel that I should warn you. You are sitting next to an aspiring author. Anything you say can and will be used in a novel if I like it.

Question of etiquette: Forcing people around you to listen to your half of a phone call when they have no way to avoid listening- bad manners or social norm?
The Sonet is the best individual sound machine for individual desktop or home use.

The Sonet is the best individual sound machine for individual desktop or home use.

I was annoyed with my friends and also amused at what people do so blatantly, so publicly.  Interestingly, people do not limit their open conversations to social settings.  Often, maybe even more frequently, they share their personal lives at work, which can be embarrassing, damaging, irritating, and at the very least, inappropriate.  It’s awkward to be on the receiving end of a phone call not intended for you, and it is just as awkward for the person not intending to impart this information but had nowhere else to go to have this conversation.

There are two main solutions for this breach of etiquette:
  1. Sound Machine
  2. Sound Masking System

While one might argue that social norms dictate better habits, we all know that people will be people, which at times, can just be obnoxious.  Thus, in a work environment, your go-to resource is white noise.  That’s because it’s the practical choice for tuning out unwanted noise and still being polite.  White noise comes in two major forms, as noted above.  A sound machine is helpful for individuals battling distractions, while a sound masking system is for larger areas prone to louder office noise.  Both are effective, just for different-sized spaces and numbers of users.

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02
Apr 2013

2 Sound Masking Options

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Open Offices

Offices are largely moving towards open office floor plans because they’re easy to plan for and much cheaper than lots of small, individual offices.  Plus, many companies tout the ability for workers to collaborate when necessary, with an “open” feel.  You can see all this on most TV shows and movies that show case modern offices.  Workers are all huddled together, some at trading-style desks, while they try to get some work done.  However, we all see as their heads pop up every time someone starts a new conversation or makes a personal phone call.

The problem with these offices is what we all see- distraction!  As interesting or frustrating or aggravating or irritating as this chatter can be, workers lose their focus in spite of themselves.  And this loss of focus costs businesses more than you know.

Sound Masking for Noise

Direct-field systems are based in the ceiling tiles and deliver consistent masking.

Direct-field systems are based in the ceiling tiles and deliver consistent masking.

That may sound a bit dramatic, but noise has been a real problem for businesses because of the distraction it causes.  Co-worker conversations and office noise cost companies billions of dollars because they draw workers’ attention away from their work, which results in less productivity, more errors, and even more stress, all of which turn into excessive absenteeism and turn-over.  The sum total for these costs is hundreds of billions of dollars.

Business owners and managers are starting to follow the signs of the sound leak and look into solution options.  While sound masking has been on the market for a while, recent technological advances have offered two main options:

  • Plenum-based systems
  • Direct-field technology

Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages.  Plenum-based systems are easier to install and have fewer parts for the coverage area because they are located above the ceiling tiles and can therefore cover a much larger indirect area.  Direct-field speakers are installed in an approximate 10′ x 10′ grid with all speakers installed in the ceiling tiles. This system provides great even coverage of the space and also give you the ability to provide paging over the speakers as well.  Direct field systems can be more expensive, but provide more uniform, direct coverage.

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18
Dec 2012

White Noise to Overcome Office Distractions

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The Problem of Noise

Noise is a serious problem for most work places.  The fact of the matter is that noise means distracted workers and distracted workers are usually unhappy, unproductive, and quite costly.  Here’s the deal:

  • The average worker is distracted more than 2 hours and is interrupted over 70 times every day.
  • They experience more stress, make more mistakes, solve fewer problems, are absent more frequently, and turn over more often.
  • This all adds up to a $600 billion  loss annually.

No one likes that.  Not workers, not employers.  It’s a real problem, as I said, but an often-overlooked one in that it doesn’t seem like office noise is really that big of a deal.  Surely, it’s something bigger.  But as we office workers know, noise really is that big of a deal- it’s distracting!!  It’s so hard to focus and get any work done when we’re distracted.  That’s why we day dream, goof off online, and look for distraction…even when we need to work.  And then the end of the day comes, and it’s like, “Dang it.  Not again.”  We promise ourselves we’ll do better tomorrow, and yet the next day comes and we have the same problems without the right resources.

Having the Right Tool for the Job

As a worker, there’s not much you can do for others.  But you can help yourself by plugging in a sound machine.  As crazy as it sounds, using a little white noise can go a long way in combating bigger, more distracting noise.  The idea is that consistent, uniform background noise allows the brain to tune out inconsistent, erratic, and even louder noise.  The point is not to drown it all out but to not focus on it.  This is where a sound machine comes in- choose your white noise of choice and work away.

Sound machines are a great resource for overcoming office distraction.  If you’re not sure if it will work for you, try this free white noise generator first.

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13
Dec 2012

Sound Masking for Office Distraction

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Office Distraction

We frequently reference office noise and its inherent problems.  Here are the facts:

  • The average worker is distracted more than 2 hours a day.
  • He or she is interrupted 70+ times a day.
  • This level of distraction adds up to about a $600 billion loss annually.

There’s a reason we talk about distraction so much and how to reduce it.  That is a ridiculous amount of lost time and money for all parties involvedIndividual workers can use a traditional sound machine to allow the brain to tune out whatever the distraction is.  However, versatility is nice, too.  Thus, I would recommend {from personal experience} the Sound Oasis Travel Machine because it has so many options, including my favorite #4, “white noise” because I’m just a traditional girl and don’t need bells and whistles.  Plus, it’s portable, so I can take it with me anytime.

Beyond sound machines, though, is sound masking in general.  An individual machine is not the only option.  Sound masking is the art of covering noise.  It can be done through a system like the VoiceArrest.  Instead of a desktop machine, a system has speakers that are installed in the ceiling tiles so that more people can benefit than just one or two.  In fact, zones can be set up office-wide or for separate areas, such as cubicles, as well as conference rooms and even individual offices.

Whether it’s conversational distraction or woodpeckers, a good sound machine can work wonders for helping you stay productive.

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04
Sep 2012

Tips for How to Tune out Noise & Distractions

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Distracted from Distraction

A friend of mine really wrote this today on Facebook:

If I had a dollar for every time I get distracted…. Man I really want some coffee

Funny as I found it, I also related a little too much.  It seems like the second I try to get on track, I get distracted, then distracted from my distraction, and not in a good way!  Facebook alone tells me I am not the only one.  In addition to my friends’ social media statuses, studies show us that the average worker is distracted more than 2 hours every day!  Good grief- 2 hours!  As much as we joke about being distracted, would you guess that you whittle away almost 1/4 of your work day?  Interestingly, as quickly as we want to point to the internet at the culprit, conversational distraction represents a large piece of the distraction pie.  This could be co-worker chatter that intentionally includes you or not.  Whether you want to be a part of the discussion or not, any conversation taking place around you grabs your attention.  This can be amusing, frustrating, or maddening.  Whichever it is, it is horribly unproductive time.

Combating Noisy Distractions

I like traditional white noise for sleep and nature sounds for work.

A great solution is a white noise machine.  They’re easy to use, pretty affordable, and usually don’t bother anyone, including nearby co-workers.  Whether you choose traditional white noise or nature sounds, the very nature of white noise is to help your brain tune out unnecessary sounds.  This can help you stay focused, or even fall (and stay) asleep.

If noise distracts you, a white noise machine can help you tune it out so you can be more productive.

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16
Aug 2012

Fighting Distraction with White Noise

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Looking for Distraction

White noise helps you stay fresh and focused.

It’s time to work, you know it, yet you’re goofing off online or on your smart phone.  I mean, what if you miss an important message or update?  Could you live with yourself if your best friend’s cousin’s boyfriend drank a cup of coffee and you didn’t know about it?  What about what all their friends say about said cup of coffee?  It would be pretty devastating to miss out on all that pertinent information.

In all seriousness, though, how often do you find yourself intentionally letting your mind wander because you know you’re not focused?  I don’t think I’m alone in saying that it happens multiple times a day.  In fact, I know I’m not because the average worker is distracted more than 2 hours a day.  So, here’s the deal- there are all kinds of distractions, both external and internal, and both are difficult to control or keep in check at work.  When you ass your own constant social media tendencies, you’re toast for the day.  An under-utilized resource is white noise.  Instead of using it as a sleep aid, you can use it to tune out distractions and stay focused.

Full disclosure: white noise does not can not tune out Facebook, etc.  But it does help you keep your mind trained on work tasks so you can more easily guard yourself against it and against noisy co-workers.  If you’re ready to try it out, there are a number of white noise generators, aka sound machines, available.  You can always try this free white noise generator to see if you like it and if it helps you stay focused, less distracted, and therefore more productive.

 

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24
Jul 2012

Sound Machines {for People Who Work with My Husband}

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Distracted at Work

The average worker is distracted more than 2 hours every day.  This is no surprise to you- you are a worker and you’re reading this….not exactly part of your work load, is it?  I understand, I really do.  I’m not being as productive as I could right now either.  The sun is shining {which, as I’ve written before, is quite rare in Scotland}, which means I took a walk earlier with the kids…that walk took me by my husband’s graduate office.  That office happens to sit up a few floors, but directly off the main street.  As is my custom, I couldn’t help but yell up a quick “Hi!”  This meant that besides my working husband, every other studying graduate got the distinct pleasure of hearing my voice out their windows.

The Cost of Interruptions

Sound machines can help you tune out what's around you.

This moment, the one in which I interrupted my husband and plenty of others, reminded me of how distracted we are at work, whether we want to be or not!  Even my husband, who loves me and doesn’t mind the interruption, did in fact find himself interrupted.  Interestingly, the average worker is also interrupted about 73 times a day.  Besides the actual 70ish interruptions, workers also lose the time it takes to get back on track.  For example, take my husband.  There he was, working away, ready to finish his PhD, I am sure, until he heard my voice.  He stopped what he was doing, stood up, walked over to the window, chatted for a minute, then went back to “work.”  The funny thing is that he didn’t go right back to work.  He probably thought about where we were going, when we’d be back by, and what I would make for lunch and/or dinner.

Sound Machines to Cover it All

This is not just my husband- most people struggle to get back on track once interrupted, and therefore distracted.  That’s how those 2 hours add up.  Plus, if you’re one of those workers who is just near by a distraction, it’s really frustrating to be held captive when you would like to be focused.  This is where a good sound machine comes in to play- instead of popping up your head every time you hear something, cover the unnecessary distractions with white noise.  I am confident my husband’s office mates would appreciate this kind of sound masking….I am just as confident that my husband should not get a sound machine- how tragic would it be to miss our hellos?

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12
Jul 2012

Office Noise: 2 Tools for Dealing with It

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Office Noise

Your office is noisy; that’s not news to you.  Sometimes the goings-on are pretty amusing, or at least interesting.  Most of the time, though, it’s frustrating to feel surrounded by needless noise.  It’s frustrating because it’s so dang distracting.  The average worker are distracted about 2 hours a day.  Sure, some of that distraction is internet-related, but actually quite a bit of it is conversational…thus, the loss of productivity.  That many interruptions is costly- not only do you lose the time of the interruption, you also lose your train of thought and even your place on your screen.

2 Tips for Avoiding Distraction at Work

As a result, most workers say that all they want is distraction-free solo work.  More than amusing office antics, workers want the time and quiet to just work.  Thus, time blocking may be a good tool for you.

  • Time Block.  Time blocking has become all the rage, from individuals to collaborators to work-at-homers.  The premise is to intentionally set aside specific time for specific projects or tasks.  Nothing interrupts that time.  Thus, it’s important to set parameters, such as a start and stop time, as well as bans on cell phones and social media during that time.  Some companies, like IBM, have seen time blocking evolve to be “quiet” time in which everyone plays the quiet game for optimal productivity and minimal distraction.

Time blocking isn’t reasonable or realistic all day, though.  Phone calls are part and parcel of a working office.  So, while a great resource, time blocking is not the sole solution for boosting productivity.  Another great tool is white noise.

  • White noise machines.  Office noise is a tricky problem because you can’t eradicate it, and you can’t ignore it.  While IBM might enjoy quiet time, some struggle to keep their attention on work when it’s uber-quiet.  Thus, adding noise can actually be just as helpful.  White noise covers office noise so that workers can relax and quit listening for the other shoe to drop.  By using white noise, you cover office distractions, and it’s at your fingertips to use when you please.

Half the battle of reclaiming lost time at work is having a game plan.  By time blocking and covering noise, you allow your brains much needed-time to process and recalibrate.

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