Introduction
We’ve all been there. You’re nearly finished with that big project, but your neighbor won’t stop talking to his friends on the phone, and your other neighbor is blasting music out of some truly awful speakers. You need quiet space to concentrate on what needs to be done! Well, I’m here to help. Here are some easy ways you can make every office environment better through quiet:
Encourage your colleagues to use headphones.
You can use headphones to block out noises. Headphones can be used with the volume turned down to listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks. More than one person can use the same set of headphones by plugging each earbud into their own device. This will allow you and your colleagues to listen to something different at the same time without disturbing anyone else around you.
Get your office some plants.
You can also use plants to create a peaceful environment in your office. Plants don’t only help with the air quality and reduce stress, they also assist with noise reduction, glare reduction, eye strain reduction and fatigue reduction. You may not think that plants can do much for these problems but they actually have been shown to help people who are exposed to them on a regular basis.
If you want to get started with adding plants into your office space there are several options available:
- Get fresh air from an indoor plant! Many of these beauties need just a little bit of sun each day or some indirect light (like under fluorescent lights), so it’s easy to keep them alive without drilling holes in your ceiling or putting together complicated watering systems—and they’ll clean up whatever pollutants might be hanging out in your space too. We love this list of low-maintenance houseplants for beginners because it includes reviews from other people about which varieties worked best for them based on their space needs like humidity levels too!
Buy or build a white noise machine.
If you’re looking for a way to block out noise, a white noise machine is a great option. White noise machines can be used anywhere and are helpful in many situations where there are high levels of background sound.
White noise machines work by producing sound at low frequencies that cover up the higher frequency sounds around you. This creates an overall effect similar to putting on earplugs. If you don’t have enough money to buy your own white noise machine, try using other methods that produce similar results: putting on earplugs or creating a playlist with songs with heavy bass and drums will help block out other noises so that your focus stays where it needs to be—on your work!
Start a company policy against phone calls.
- Start a company policy against phone calls.
- It’s hard to concentrate when you’re on the phone, and no one wants to be left out of a conversation. If you can institute a policy that discourages people from taking calls in public spaces, it will make everyone feel more comfortable and focused.
- It’s rude to talk on the phone in a public place—for example, when sitting at your desk or in an open communal area like an office kitchen or lounge area. People have different sensitivities about noise levels, so if one person is speaking loudly on their phone while another is talking with friends nearby or trying to get work done quietly at their desk, it can become stressful for everyone involved.
- It’s also rude to talk on the phone while being engaged in other activities–even moreso than other distractions such as music playing through headphones (though both should be avoided if possible). When someone engages in an activity where they are expected not only by themselves but by others around them (such as eating lunch), do not interrupt them with unnecessary noise pollution!
Create a “quiet zone.”
If your office is already bursting with activity, it might be difficult to find a quiet place. However, if you have a spare room or corner that isn’t being used for anything else, consider turning it into a “quiet zone.” This could be an area where people come to escape the noise and stress of the world outside—or they may come here at lunchtime to get away from their colleagues.
The important thing when creating your own quiet space is making sure that there’s something in this space that will make people want to visit it regularly—whether that’s comfortable chairs, shelves full of books and magazines, or even just some plants growing on windowsills (which naturally filter out some sound).
You can make the office environment you occupy better for everyone.
You can make the office environment you occupy better for everyone. If you have a quiet space where other people will be receiving information through headphones, it will be easier to concentrate and focus. Putting plants in your office is another great way to promote silence because they help absorb sound waves, creating a more peaceful environment.
Using white noise machines are also helpful as well because they can mask any distracting noises that may occur while someone is trying to focus on work or studying.
Conclusion
If you take these steps, you’ll be well on your way to achieving quiet in your office environment. You can start by writing a short note explaining why it’s beneficial for everyone to have a quiet space and asking your colleagues to wear headphones. After that, go shopping or build a white noise generator as needed. Then create a company policy against phone calls, and finally designate some corners of the office as quiet zones.