Increase productivity? Reduce distractions! | 9 practical tips

Noise is the biggest culprit when it comes to workplace distractions. Distraction due to annoying noises is often the biggest annoyance for employees. And it also has a negative impact on labour productivity. Out research it turns out that distractions at work cost around 50 billion a year! And one other research, from Steel case and Ipsos, shows that poor acoustics disrupts concentration and reduces productive time by up to 86 minutes a day.

How noise affects our work
Noise affects our focus, cognition, and productivity. It gives us stress. It leaves us frustrated and fatigued. It even stifles our creativity. Thanks to computers, we no longer have to endure ticking, mechanical typewriters. We also no longer have to listen to that annoying dial-up modem number, the deafening beeps from a fax machine, or the rattling of a matrix printer. In that regard, work life has become (relatively) much quieter. But we are still faced with a multitude of beeps, warnings, notifications and pings. Colleagues keep grinding, coughing, slurping and sneezing at their computers. And of course, people still talk... a lot.

Prevent annoying noises
The best time to address serious noise problems is in the design phase of a building or interior. At least if that design contains recommendations for acoustics. But you often find out that the acoustics need to be improved when you are all in the building together.

9 practical tips on how to reduce distractions and increase productivity

1. Watch your step!
   Floors have a huge impact on office acoustics. Hard surfaces can cause a lot of noise pollution, but carpet is not the only alternative. If you want a hard floor, there are a number of subfloor options that can reduce impact noise when placed under wood or tiles. Vinyl, cork, and rubber floors can also be a good idea.

2. Absorb the sound
   Sound is nothing but waves of moving air. You can install sound-absorbing panels to prevent them from going to places where they are not welcome. The panels can be strategically placed to absorb the sound. It's the same thing that happens when you yell at a pillow. The panels come in almost any size or color. There are wall, ceiling and free-standing panels with acoustic material.

3. Keep outside noises out
   There can also be a lot of outside noise. That's why there are noise-cancelling windows, soundproof panels, soundproof blinds and other high-tech solutions that help prevent noise from outside your workplace. If you're in the city center, you naturally want to keep out the sounds of passing city buses or trams.

4. Cover your ears
   Headphones have become the low-tech solution for writers, programmers, and “heads-down” workers who need to focus in a busy office. If you don't have the luxury of grouping employees by work function, headphones are an easy way to keep everyone “in their own flow”. Note that tightness can be an issue here. If everyone chooses to listen to different music at the same time, it creates an even greater distraction for those with uncovered ears.

5. Set up a buffer zone
   By installing absorbent and/or diffuse elements, you can reduce noise pollution. This can be done by acoustic dividers, by providing cabinets with an acoustic finish or by installing plants. In addition to their ability to purify the air and improve the atmosphere, plants are excellent at distributing sound so that it bothers you less. Smart green placement can help block and redirect sound. Of course, they do need water and light! Want a little more sound absorption? Choose plants with wider leaves.

6. Maintain your furniture
   Have your furniture serviced, clean the moving parts and/or replace the wheels for the correct floor finish

7. Move noisy colleagues
   Some employees are noisier than others. This often has to do with the nature of their work. Sellers must call. And customer service agents, too. Other colleagues are again working more independently and with the computer screens in front of them. For them, focus is a valuable asset and every conversation louder than whispering distracts them. The best option is to arrange the space differently. Move the noisy neighbors to another part of the property. What if that's not possible? Try to find other ways to keep them apart using smart schedules or other uses of an existing space (for example, turn a conference room into a “quiet office”).

8. Invest in concentration spots
   Transportable walls and partitions can be used to absorb or block noise and create concentration areas. You might even want to try separate quiet rooms, temporary offices, pods, and cabins that add privacy and allow people to work undisturbed.

9. Add artificial noise
   Not all office noise is bad news. Masking sound with artificial noise can be an effective solution. Artificial noise creates a layer of noise that ensures that employees are not dragged into conversations in the vicinity.

Want to know more?
Would you like to know more about optimal acoustics and audibility in the office? We are happy to help you with the acoustics at your (home) workplace. Let us know. Or check it out here project at Alkmaar Sport where we have improved acoustics and made the room corona-proof.

Also read about the new office environment after corona and the multi-space approach? We'd love to have a coffee with you (online or offline). Take contact with us.

Check out our sustainable acoustic solutions for sustainable office furnishings or read here more about the changing office environment after corona.

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