The work-from-home setup has long been a norm, even before the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. Employees enjoy freedom and autonomy, but the remote configuration still has lows and highs. A noise-free and peaceful setup would be great, but the odds are not always in their favor.
Distractions as the top obstacle for every work-from-home setup are nothing new. Dealing with unwanted noise is part of the work-from-home routine. People working from home want peace for concentration, but even the simple things prevent us from doing so.
It could be from a simple neighbor's morning drill or your household clamors. Undesired noise is usually one of the most notorious problems work-from-home setup encounters.
A sample for this is the unwanted traffic or hubbubs from your family that can throw you off track. These are unwanted background blares that we wish we could mute. And all the while hoping to have the same proper and quiet environment to work in as most offices do.
Silence might escalate your mental stability to your grind.
Comfortability comes with a tremendous amount of effort but something worth it for sure. If you are dealing with distractions while working from home, here are the tips on how to build a quiet workspace:
Create your own Makeshift Office Setup
Any office setup should be designed to make space workable and conducive. Having a designated area for work at home will allow you to concentrate more on your tasks. It can also save you from unnecessary distractions.
It can be your spare room, bedroom corner, or even a patio in the backyard, as long as you consider it your nook. Having one or more workspaces can save you from the hassle of convoluted home spaces.
It is also much easier to get a task done if you're working in your comfort place.
It will help you have peace and serenity of your own while getting work done free from stress. It can help ward off family members from approaching you when working at your spot.
A comfortable workspace can aid the need to focus at work. It is also one great way to avoid distractions.
Find quiet times
Plotting down the tranquil hours in your household isn't as hard as it sounds. Start from the daily routines that are usually a source of unnecessary noises.
Check which hours are people most active and not.
Working in a quieter space can boost your productivity since this environment can clear your mind and focus more on your task.
Identifying the quiet times at home can help you schedule work these hours.
Avoid times of the day where everyone is most active and noisy.
Besides finding a physical solace, shutting your phone down or toning its noise down is also a great idea. If you can avoid the temptations for what starts as a minute of scrolling to hours of browsing, do so.
Minor breaks are tremendous but limit breaks that give more emphasis to distractions.
Clock into your biological rhythm
Sudden shifts in the body clock might affect one's productivity. It can also distract you from working as it can cause unwanted sleepiness.
Clocking into your regular body clock can ease the downtimes.
Understanding the time where you are most productive escalates your working patterns. It can cut off unnecessary working hours where you struggle to finish a task.
Determine whether you are a morning person or not and work your way around it.
Coming prepared before your work hours, of course, includes having enough sleep. A breakfast, cup of warm coffee, or milk would be a great way to start the day. A healthier lifestyle will help you get more focused on any tasks for the day.
Comfortable sleeping conditions can help determine how the next day will be. It is essential to value sleep and put as much effort into it.
Utilizing things that can help you achieve better sleep is a must.
Having memory foam pillows and blackout curtains can also help you have that good night's sleep.
Blackout curtains work by inhibiting the morning light through your window. At the same time, memory foams are for good pressure relief and provide support for all sleeping positions.
The secret is to work with your body clock, not against it.
Your lifestyle and sleeping patterns have a significant effect on your work productivity.
Thus, the body works at its best while considering its accustomed pattern.
When working a graveyard shift, the key is to change your living habits. That way, you won't burn out because you are exhausted.
Mute the noises, literally
There are a lot of ways to mute the background noises at home. Using noise-cancellation and reduction headphones are common ways of doing so.
But another more practical option would be soundproofing.
If you want to ensure that no noise will enter your workspace, soundproofing might be what you're looking for.
It includes making use of sound-absorbing panels and incorporating it into your walls. It can also be DIY-ed using thick curtains and sealing gaps.
It might come off a bit pricey but expect it to be practical and helpful in the long run.
Whether it's your neighbors that are noisy or your room this time around, soundproofing will surely do the job. Some DIY methods you can follow to soundproof your workspace would be:
1. Weatherproof
If you often hear lawnmowers or ice cream trucks, chances are there are wide gaps between your doors.
Use a weather strip to seal these gaps. Sound travels by air so filling these gaps inhibits the unwanted noises from the outside.
A car, for example, has rubber strips in its doors, and the traffic or jeepneys from outside can't be heard.
Not only that it stops water from coming in, but it also inhibits the honking and other car noises outside.
2. Curtains
Good old and baggy curtains help.
Hanging a "blackout" curtain or those thick curtains that prevent the morning light from passing through your window is helpful.
Besides helping you have a continued night's sleep, it can also help reduce the outside noise.
This curtain can also absorb noises that may pass through your window. It works as an extra layer of soundproofing. It can shut the outside noise and add additional isolation to what seals and rubber strips can't.
3. Gaps
Door and window gaps allow sound to pass through.
These gaps can be sealed off with stoppers or rubber strips available at your local DIY store, perhaps City Hardware. Strips and stoppers can be attached to the gaps, so you won't have to re-attach them. Use these at your main door and windows orienting the main road, and you're good to go.
4. Carpet or Thick Rugs
Using carpets or thick rugs can muffle sounds that vibrate through the hard floor. It is usual for apartments or condominiums. It not only adds to the aesthetic vibe of your room but can also decrease unwanted noise.
Find your Inner Peace.
Peace is an essential tool in leveraging your work productivity and concentration. Take some time to identify which strategy helps you build your quiet workspace. Know and create your comfort space to avoid stress and unavoidable noise jams.
Many applications can be used to avoid distractions --- from setting up an excellent playlist to clear your thoughts to drinking a cup of tea.
Setting up the physical space, mood, and overall experience will help you get on track.
Transitioning to a work-from-home setup may come off harder than expected.
Distractions are all part of the process, but it's solely up to you to put yourself in that unbothered mode. Begin by incorporating the key steps above with your daily work-life habits.
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