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Office noise bothers some people more than others

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Re: Office noise bothers some people more than others

#361

Post by flocial »

navs wrote: post #147
joegahona wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am finding No. 1 and No. 3 to be absolutely true in my new job (open office). Loved my Bose QC headphones when I was using them occasionally at a coffeshop or on short flights, but for 6-8 hours? I'm finding that I'm leaving work with a headache now. It's making me consider the Airpods Pro since they're not vice-like but do include noise-canceling.

Considering buying the airpods for that same reason. I have a pair of WF-1000xm3’s, the earbud equivalent of Sony’s Bose QC competitor. But they’re bulky and it causes me pain wearing them for longer than an hour. Tried multiple ear tips and even bought some comply foam tips for additional noise isolation and comfort.

I switched from WF-1000xm3s to AirPods Pro and it was the best decision ever (I still love my WMs). They are lighter and much more comfortable. Usually I can't wear in ears more than a couple hours but I could leave APs in all day.

There are less connection drops, no voice announcements like "noise cancellation activated" just a discrete blip, the transition between modes is quite smooth, and the "pass through mode" aka transparency mode feels like you're not wearing anything. And I do find the ANC quite excellent, there's a much less reduced "ringing" you get from other NC gear (could be due to better algorithms, chip, or the mic on the inside that processes noise inside your ear canal). Overall one of the best purchases I've made.

Re: Office noise bothers some people more than others

#362

Post by rtpg »

waterhouse wrote: post #350
ken wrote: post #337

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve never understood how some people believe that the problem of too much noise could be solved by adding more noise. There’s too much light in my eyes, and dark glasses are uncomfortable. Well, have you tried shining another light at your face? Maybe a different color of light would help.

Your comment seems a bit tongue in cheek and you probably know, but anyway... Theoretically, the brain can get used to certain kinds of regular noise and filter it out, and then, if the disruption is a small sound that occurs irregularly... if you add constant white noise that's louder than the sound, then the sound should get quite literally lost in the noise. There is an analogy to light that actually applies. Imag…

> Theoretically, the brain can get used to certain kinds of regular noise and filter it out, and then, if the disruption is a small sound that occurs irregularly... if you add constant white noise that's louder than the sound, then the sound should get quite literally lost in the noise.

Just an FYI, while this is basically true for neurotypical people, for some people (for example those with ADHD or who might be on the autism spectrum), there's difficulty filtering, so this ends up just adding cognitive load rather than accomplishing a filtering effect.

To use a dumb visual analogy, imagine you tried to hide some carpet stains by putting another rug over it. Some people can partially see through rugs, and so now they have to deal with the rug _and_ the carpet stains.

Of course this stuff is still worth trying out, ultimately a lot of these kinds of things are deeply personal, and it's pretty easy to try.

Re: Office noise bothers some people more than others

#363

Post by birdyrooster »

meddlepal wrote: post #275
birdyrooster wrote: post #272

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. The noise is the businesses responsibility to resolve, not the individual employee. We need spaces which take the needs of employees into account first when creating work spaces, not finance people masquerading as office space gurus.

Sort of, the noise is also your problem to solve if you want to be productive and keep your job in the long term. It's not just the companies problem. Especially as more companies move to this model it's not like you can just leave for a different gig with quieter space as it might not exist. Therefore you must also adapt.

If by adapt you mean quit, then it wouldn’t be the first time.

Re: Office noise bothers some people more than others

#364

Post by loosescrews »

magduf wrote: post #159
navs wrote: post #135

I currently work for a startup and all three of us are hotdesking. We're constantly moved to new spaces in the hotdesking space because a new company is leaving/moving in. I've sat beside recruiters, property managers and salespeople. There's no "quiet" room. The meeting rooms cost a few hundred and need to be pre-booked. My home environment isn't a quiet refuge either. Beside a busy street, more flatmates than their…

>Yes, you can use noise cancelling headphones but: >2. They don't really block all the noise and you live in anxiety waiting for that one blaring ringtone to squeeze through NC headphones aren't designed to block all noise, only repetitive noise, basically white noise. Other noises, like ringtones, actually are louder or easier to hear on many models of NC headphones, as is speech around you. Noise-cancellation's pur…

I use 3M PELTOR X5A Over-The-Head Ear Muffs with 3M Peltor HY80A Gel Ear Cushions. They are comfortable for long periods of time and block all types of noise. They won't make your work environment completely silent, but I am pretty sensitive to noise and they all me to work in an open floor plan office.

Re: Office noise bothers some people more than others

#365

Post by TrispusAttucks »

vraivroo wrote: post #262
noelsusman wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This baffles me. There are so many alternatives to working for a startup with no real office in a dense, expensive city.

Yes, you can also work for an established company with cramped offices in a dense, expensive city. Or you can take a massive pay cut, tank your career, and go live in the middle of nowhere. Sounds great.

I'm a remote worker in middle of nowhere paid a competitive industry salary. Cost of living is ridiculously cheap compared to big metros. If you can't increase your earnings, decreasing costs is just as well.

Re: Office noise bothers some people more than others

#366

Post by rajangdavis »

I used to work in a call center doing analytics/development work and I found that loud noise wasn't the issue but rather hearing dozens of conversations at the same time, each with their own rhythm and pitch. It sounded like literal cacophony to my ears.

I would put on noise cancelling head phones and blast music which helped, but headphones can be uncomfortable and more often than not, you want to be able to think in a quiet environment.

After everyone left, I would be massively productive in complete silence.

However, when I was later moved to a quieter area, what would be massively distracting was the sound of people walking by lightly breaking the silence. The only way I could avoid being distracted by these events was to put on headphones and blast music.

Re: Office noise bothers some people more than others

#367

Post by brailsafe »

ben509 wrote: post #356
brailsafe wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My biggest hurdle—aside from undocumented code—at my new company, is fucking mouth noises from coworkers and the sound of crumpling snack bags in an open office. It's to the extent where I have to leave the area and regain composure before mentioning it. If I can't find a way to manage, I'll leave, but I'm not in the financial position to have that luxury yet. What will probably happen, is I'll work up to a slow comp…

I've been driven crazy by all that, and I won't say what else because I'm afraid that you'd notice it too. What I'd suggest: 1. You're going to harp on it. It starts with the annoying sounds, but then you're telling yourself about how rude they are, how gross they are, the injustice of it all. Yes, here and there you've got a point, but 99% of it is you trying to rationalize your feelings, and then it wants to assign…

I think these are good on-point suggestions, all of which I'm doing to some extent. Outright blame is tough to control. I'm trying to continually remind myself that those are my opinions of their behaviour, and they just are habituated to that for whatever reason. I can't assume that, particularly in an ethnically diverse office, everyone would have an identical institutionalized definition of polite. Also that my experience of it is rational, in so much as something uncontrollable couldn't be irrational, and that's just better to find a way to work with or around.

Thankfully, this is a relatively small and flat org that somewhat embraces autonomy. I personally take as many breaks as I can or want because it's still part of work. Likewise working out of a coffee shop is something I'm very comfortable with, so I've started doing that as well. Working from home is less common here, so that'll be a discussion I think.

Also thanks for not mentioning whatever the other one was. The sounds I'm fully stressed about are the ones I mentioned, but others are just revolting in a vaccuum. Like farts, audible burps, coughing without covering.

Re: Office noise bothers some people more than others

#368

Post by baroffoos »

readme wrote: post #257
jsinai wrote: post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> particularly when I hear a mouse click getting louder and more violent. What really gets to me is loud and furious typing. Otherwise most office noise doesn’t bother me. But that’s mostly because I’m surrounded by colleagues who I get along with.

Then get a mechanical keyboard and type louder. That's how you assert dominance.

I hammer away at a cherry blue keyboard at work. No one has complained so far but I suspect it is because I have been here for longer than them.

Re: Office noise bothers some people more than others

#369

Post by nopinsight »

Noise likely disturbs gifted and creative individuals more than others, according to research on overexcitability.

“Overexcitabilities are inborn intensities indicating a heightened ability to respond to stimuli. Found to a greater degree in creative and gifted individuals, overexcitabilities are expressed in increased sensitivity, awareness, and intensity, and represent a real difference in the fabric of life and quality of experience. Dabrowski identified five areas of intensity-Psychomotor, Sensual, Intellectual, Imaginational, and Emotional. A person may possess one or more of these.”

https://www.sengifted.org/post/overexcitability-and-the-gift...

Bill Gates’ insistence on personal offices for all developers (at least during his reign) probably helped improve Microsoft‘s productivity a great deal.

Re: Office noise bothers some people more than others

#370

Post by catalogia »

eeZah7Ux wrote: post #308
navs wrote: post #135

I currently work for a startup and all three of us are hotdesking. We're constantly moved to new spaces in the hotdesking space because a new company is leaving/moving in. I've sat beside recruiters, property managers and salespeople. There's no "quiet" room. The meeting rooms cost a few hundred and need to be pre-booked. My home environment isn't a quiet refuge either. Beside a busy street, more flatmates than their…

Noise cancelling headphones are a far from effective. Use passive isolation from earplugs to headphones.

Using both at once is effective. My brother, a naval flight officer, swears by a combination of passive isolation and active noise cancellation. Personally I just use passive, but I have much less noise to contend with than him.
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