Silence, perhaps, is our most under-appreciated productivity tool. It’s seldom our worlds are fully silent-so seldom that complete silence feels shocking. We welcome sound into our lives sometimes to our detriment. So let’s talk about noise. Here are a few things you can hear right now.
The Problems with Noise
Two types of everyday noise can be bad for us
- Excessive noise such as the prolonged loud noise of being near an airport
- The other is simply the distraction of general noise around us, such as conversations or interruptions from colleagues in the workplace
Constant Interruptions Reduce Focus
Distractions and interruptions are such a common part of our workdays, we don’t even think of them as excessive noise anymore
- A study found that knowledge workers have focus periods of just eleven minutes on average, in-between interruptions
- Between interruptions, distractions, background noise, and a lack of calm and quiet, the noise of the office can be harmful
Silence Gives the Brain a Break
Research suggests our brains are never really quiet-instead, they’re always working, even when we’re not actively engaged in a conscious activity.
- Complete silence, then, allows the brain to return to its normal default state and continue its processing.
Excessive Noise Is Bad for Health
Being around excessive noise has been found to affect our health quite seriously
- Epidemiologists have found correlations between chronic noise sources such as highways and airports and high blood pressure
- Other studies have found links between noise and sleep loss, heart disease, and tinnitus
- People who live in consistently noisy places also commonly have elevated levels of stress hormones
We Do Our Best Work in Silence
The ability to shut out the world around us can be beneficial, beyond the pure benefits of silence.
- Both thinking creatively and considering long-term decisions are skills that, according to psychologist Jonathan Smallwood, “allow us to generate novel solutions to problems,” and to stick to our plans long enough to reach our goals.”
- Spending time alone, away from the noise of the world, provides the best opportunity for creating new work.
Excessive Noise Can Harm Brain Function
High-noise environments are dangerous for our mental health as well
- One study looked at children who went to school near the Munich airport before and after the airport was relocated
- The researchers found that students attending that school performed worse on long-term memory and reading comprehension tests
- Both examples point to good news: removing the noise can take away the mental effects
