Eyes and Ears at Work

In multiple articles we’ve talked about sensory experiences that are relaxing (looking at colours that are not very saturated but relatively light like a sage green with lots of white mixed into it, for example) or the reverse (seeing a saturated, darker shade, like Kelly green, for instance).  You can find more examples of sensory experiences that fall into either camp by using The Space Doctors’ online index.  All of the sensory experiences that we’re having at any one time add together to produce one overall effect, and it’s that “score” that ultimately influences how well our brains work when – we’ve talked about how all this “adding up” happens in previous articles (search for “senses” and “sensory” in our search bar top right).

One of the things that workplace designers sometimes forget is that seeing other people captures our attention and when we do so we have less mental processing power left to do more complex tasks requiring focus.  When you’re trying to write up that complicated report or come up with that new advertising slogan, it’s best if you do so in an area where you can’t see others—either because they’re not there at all, or there’s a solid wall (short or tall) or a plant or a piece of furniture blocking your view or your seat is oriented so you just don’t see anyone else.

Being able to hear other people is just plain distracting and it’s even harder to avoid hearing other people than it is seeing them.  If you are working in an office with zones for different sorts of work (what’s known in the design biz as “activity-based working”) hopefully one is actually quiet and there are enough seats in it for you to work there when you need to.  If there aren’t wear big headphones (that will signal to others that you’re trying to focus) and listen to white noise or a tranquil nature soundtrack (burbling brooks, gently rustling leaves, peacefully singing birds, etc.) these sorts of wordless soundscapes are best for your performance.  Don’t try to will-power your way out of being distracted by other people; our brains are set up in a way that doesn’t allow us to completely block out the noise made by others because our survival as a species at one time depended on us being able to readily coordinate our activities with others.  Research has shown, by the way, that working in an activity-based workplace can reap benefits for collaboration, but its effects on concentration are not as positive.