Having a Quiet Workspace When Working from Home
For many of us, the past year has completely changed the way we work. In larger offices, we had to contend with the sound of others printing, talking, typing and more. Since COVID hit, many office workers are working from home or adapting a hybrid model depending on their line of work and their employers policies.
When you’re working remotely, similar noise levels from different sources can be similar to those experienced in an office setting - kids who are home from school, a significant other also working remotely, pets needing attention or household appliances running in the background. Video conferences and phone calls require attention, so reducing these sources of distraction can help focus on tasks and reduce stress.
One benefit of working from home is that you may have more control over the situation. Set boundaries with others in the household and ask them to respect your work hours to allow you to concentrate.
Ways to Help Stay Focused
Even without sound, it can be tough to stay focused when working from home. There are plenty of new distractions, so try to create a space that allows for deep concentration as you work.
To deal with sound in your home office and stay focused in other ways, try to:
Reduce distractions: Before you begin work, take a few moments to sit at your workplace and listen out for any sounds that could be distracting. Conversations within your own home or noise from traffic outside could cause you to lose focus. Focus on something simple like the ticking of a clock.
Ask others to respect your work hours: Let everyone in your household know that you have to work during certain hours of the day. If you have children, give them activities, schoolwork or chores to do while you work so they can stay on your schedule. If you have to share a workspace with someone else in your home, make sure you both understand you need to be productive.
Play music: It may seem counterintuitive to add more sound to your space, but sometimes controlled sounds help combat the external noises you can’t control. Playing music, white noise, nature sounds or another background noise can help keep your mind off the distracting noises. Make sure you keep this music at a medium volume — around 70 to 90 decibels (dB) — for the best level of background sound.
Use noise-canceling headphones: If you work in multiple rooms or a space you can’t soundproof, noise-canceling headphones can function as portable soundproofing equipment. Whether you get headphones that play music and cancel out background sounds or headphones that simply block noise, they can be a big help. You can even use them back at the office when you’re done working remotely.
Set up a workspace: If you already have a home office, you may not need to worry about having a dedicated workspace. But if you’ve never worked from home before, you’ll need to create a functional setup. If you can, work from a desk instead of other areas like your bed. This may help you feel more attentive and like you’re at your office. If you don’t have a desk available, use a table instead. A table in your dining room or kitchen may be convenient, but if these rooms are open, they can be difficult to soundproof. Try moving a table into a bedroom or other room with a door you can close.
It might take some time to figure out what setup suits you best and that’s okay. For many, working from home is a new experience and with inconvenient home circumstances it’s not always easy. Whenever you feel yourself getting distracted while working, take a moment and try to relax your mind. Evaluate what might be distracting you so that you can work to solve the problem.