There’s a lot of noise in the world: the hum of a computer, the whir of a fan, the whir of a hard drive, and the whir of a microphone. You can’t escape it. Yet, we don’t typically notice it.
One of the biggest problems that remote workers encounter is the amount of background noise in the office. When working in an open office, the sound of everyone’s conversations can become distracting.
So, an important part of working remotely is to make sure there is no background noise in the workplace. One of the most common mistakes remote workers make is to set up audio equipment too close to the computer. This can result in a lot of noise being picked up by the microphone.
To work from home or from a remote office, you need to be able to get work done without distractions from the outside world. Some workers find that they can get more work done when they get a little noise from the outside world.
In the past, workers would have to go out to get a coffee, or turn on a radio or computer, or put on music to drown out the noises. This new generation of workers wants the convenience of the office without dealing with the noise. Fortunately, there are a lot of new compact personal headphone solutions available on the market.
Turn off social media
If you’re an employee working from home, you have a little more freedom, but it still comes with a few caveats. You have to pick a quiet place to work from, and you have to be careful about distractions. But if you want a little bit of a break from technology, you can also turn off social media.
Try co-working space
Working from home or from a location that lacks a convenient co-working space is a great way to work from home. But, there are a few things to keep in mind when you work from a remote location, especially if you are a busy, remote worker. Most remote workers try to avoid distractions by working in a quiet environment, with no distractions from tasks or sounds. Some find this difficult to achieve, especially when they are listening to music, watching TV or reading something. Don’t let yourself be distracted by these distractions unless you want to switch to a different “distraction-free” environment. Listen to music or podcasts but ensure that it doesn’t distract you.
Use a dedicated office space
It’s important to have a dedicated space with a desk for remote work. Otherwise, you end up relying on friends, family, and coworkers to help you get through the day. When you need to be productive, it can be hard to focus when you are in someone else’s house. You may even have to go out to use the bathroom. And, with all the distractions you will lose focus at home. So, make sure you have a dedicated space in your home, with a desk for your computer.
Soundproofing your office space is an essential ingredient for being able to concentrate on your work while being in a remote working situation. It’s also incredibly easy to achieve—just wrap up a couple of sheets of foam and set aside a few hours to make a noise-absorbing barrier. How loud a space is depends on a few different factors, but a floor covering can make a big difference. For example, a layer of vinyl will help to eliminate the echo you might get from a bare floor, while a thick carpet will provide an extra layer of insulation to keep the sound from bouncing back.
Use noise-cancelling headphones
Noise-cancellation technology is a technology that limits noise pollution by cancelling out unwanted sounds. If you’re working remotely for an employer, especially in an open office where everyone can hear what is happening, the effectiveness of noise-cancelling headphones is essential.
Find a quiet room
Working in a noisy environment can be distracting, especially when you’re in the middle of a work session. For example, someone in the next office could be making loud noises that can’t be heard in your cubicle. Or you could be in an environment that is simply too noisy to concentrate. Sometimes, all you need to do is find a quiet room.
Finding a quiet place to work can be difficult. You need a quiet place that is free of distractions and interruptions. A quiet room may not be free of distractions, but it should be free of noise, and you should be able to concentrate without being interrupted.
Put on earplugs
If you’re a remote worker, you know how much you depend on high-quality audio to stay productive. But you also know that the way you set up your audio makes a significant difference. Noise-blocking earplugs are great for mitigating the noise of loud coworkers or meetings, but they are not always ideal for recording or editing audio.