8 ways to work in an open office without losing your mind

busy office harry's
Harry’s/Geordie Wood

Study after study has found the open-concept office to be counterproductive.

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We like to think being closer to our colleagues fosters collaboration, but mostly the nonstop chatter has people wishing they could get some peace and quiet.

As an introvert, I've had to develop several strategies over the years to fight for my productivity, not to mention my sanity.

May they bring you a much-needed dose of tranquility.

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Shift your schedule by an hour.

Scott Gow adjusts a tower clock on test at the Electric Time Company in Medfield, Massachusetts March 6, 2009.   REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Scott Gow adjusts a tower clock on test at the Electric Time Company in Medfield Thomson Reuters

If you work in an office that has regular periods of frequent noise, followed by quieter hours, consider coming into work either an hour earlier or later.

The added time during an off-peak hour can afford you some extra minutes to yourself, before the noisemakers arrive.

I've done some of my best work at 6pm, when half the office has already left.

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Use Noisili.

noisili screenshot
Noisili

I discovered Noisili about a year ago. It's probably the best productivity tool I've found.

Like sites such as Coffitivity and Raining.fm, Noisili provides white noises that play endlessly in the background. It's by far the simplest and easiest tool of its kind.

Noisili lets you listen to thunderstorms, wind, coffee shop chitchat, crackling fire, running water, and general white noise — and in any combination and volume level you choose.

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Find a quiet corner to work.

quiet space 1
Steelcase

Most offices don't have designated single-person rooms (unless you work in a coworking space with privacy booths), but they might have a couch or two. 

Susan Cain, author of the 2012 introvert bible "Quiet," says even the most sociable extroverts need solitude to work sometimes. She feels so strongly, in fact, that she partnered with design firm Steelcase to create her own furniture line for solitude-seekers at work

If you can't escape into your headphones, a secluded spot somewhere else in the office could do the trick — even if only to recharge your batteries.

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Go for a walk.

girl walking
Moyan Brenn/Flickr

Let's say your office is old-school and you don't have anywhere private to go.

Chances are you can still ditch the office for a few minutes to take a walk around the block.

You'll come back to your desk feeling refreshed and probably more creative, according to certain research.

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Listen to video game soundtracks.

Mario Kart screenshot
A screenshot of Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U. CheatCC

I can't vouch for the science on this one, but personal experience and loads of anecdotal evidence say that listening to video game soundtracks can create the same kind of intense focus you'd normally get while playing the video game itself.

If you've ever yelled to your frustrated mom upstairs "One more level!" then you could probably benefit from giving the method a try.

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Minimize your multitasking.

Focus
REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Focusing is hard enough with people yammering in your ear. It's even harder when you're trying to do 10 things at once.

A 2009 study from Stanford University found people who don't multitask are better at switching between tasks, had better memories, and could focus more. 

Concentrate on one thing at a time if your office is noisy, for the sake of your work.

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Ask for peace and quiet.

conversation at work young professionals
Flickr/ITU Pictures

There is a 0% chance you are the only person in your office who finds noise disruptive.

So instead of creating barriers between you and the noise, or finding a way to escape it entirely, voice your concern.

Many offices use an online chat platform like Slack or Hipchat. A quick office-wide discussion about the noise problem could be enough to move loud conversations online, leaving the rest of the room free to focus.

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Try working from home.

working from home
Flickr / Luke Redmond

If all else fails and your job allows it, take one day out of the week to work remotely.

It's not an ideal situation — at home, you're guaranteeing you won't collaborate as effectively — but at least you can focus on the tasks at hand.

Some research even finds working from home can benefit the employee as much as the employer, given the increased productivity and savings on utilities — a win-win!

Productivity Music Work
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