Noise at work: fatigue, stress and concentration | Akin

Noise at work: when the sound environment becomes exhausting

An open-plan office may seem quiet.

Yet, for eight hours, you hear:

Conversations.

Calls.

Keyboards.

Notifications.

Chairs.

Colleagues passing behind you.

Taken separately, none of these sounds are extraordinary.

But their accumulation can make some days much more tiring.

Why can open-plan offices be difficult for concentration?

The problem often comes from the inability to control one's environment.

You can close your door when you have a private office.

In a shared space, it's much more complicated.

Every conversation can become a distraction.

Are conversations more disruptive than other sounds?

They can be for certain tasks.

When you hear words, your attention can naturally be drawn to their content.

You may then have more difficulty staying completely focused on your own work.

How to make your workspace quieter?

First, try the free solutions:

  • position your desk in a less frequented area;
  • use a quiet room when possible;
  • disable notifications;
  • organize certain tasks during quiet periods;
  • take breaks away from the hustle and bustle.

What about earplugs?

They can be useful when you cannot control your environment.

Akin Acoustic provides a discreet solution to reduce certain sound distractions during times when you need to stay focused.

👉 Discover Akin Acoustic:
https://akinacoustic.com/

FAQ

Why does noise at work make me tired?
The accumulation of conversations and sounds can become tiring for some people.

What is the main problem with noise in open-plan offices?
It can be difficult to control sound sources, and certain conversations can distract attention.

Can I wear earplugs at work?
It depends on your professional environment and your tasks. In particular, they should not prevent you from hearing important sounds related to safety or communication.


Back to blog