“Can You Lower That Please?”
Ten Simple Tips From The Institute of Noise Control Engineering Experts To Control Noise While Working At Home
While everyone is continuing to do their part and are working from home The Institute of Noise Control Engineering of the USA (INCE-USA) reached out to members to collect tips on how to control the noise level in the home office. While working from home can be loud and even stressful our objective was to find out if there are simple, practical ways to alleviate some of these stressors and lower the noise level. INCE members were happy to provide some easy to implement tips:
- Invest in headphones – especially if there are multiple people working in the home – ditch the laptop mic and speakers. This can also be helpful if there are several people on calls.
- Add absorptive materials to your workspaces, this can be anything from stuffed couches to thick curtains and pillows.
- Add rugs to highly trafficked areas in your space for even more acoustical absorption.
- Take time to go into a “silent” space throughout the day to introduce a calming effect on the brain. You will allow yourself to focus on your tasks at hand. This can be going to lie down with headphones or earplugs.
- Set your office up on the opposite side of your major noise source – have kids at home? Try to keep space between you and their screens.
- Try to seal doors tightly with rolled towels at the bottom of the door.
- Invest in a white noise machine.
- Make sure all appliances are up-to-date and well maintained. A lack of maintenance could be the reason why your dishwasher has become louder.
- Incorporate weather stripping and draft stoppers on all doors and windows to help create more acoustical privacy and reduce distractions outside of the home.
- Remove visual access to the source of unwanted background noise – this helps with perception and concentration.”
We hope these tips help you have a better work inducive space.
Interested in sound and noise control? INCE is the leading authority on noise control in the United States. Learn more here: https://www.inceusa.org/
