Since the invention of the television, there has been a rise in noise pollution. This is not only because we’re exposed to more noise than ever before, but also because we’ve become less and less tolerant of it.
Noise pollution can have serious health consequences; for example, it can cause hearing loss and heart disease.
Noise pollution also impacts our moods and how productive we are at work or school. It makes us feel like victims rather than empowered individuals with control over their own lives—and that feeling isn’t good for anyone’s mental health.
In this post I’ll show you how to create your own quiet room –a place where you can escape from all those noisy distractions so you’re free to work, think and create (all without the need for any medication).
A quiet room is a place where there are few or no people. It is also a space that has very little noise and no distractions. This can be achieved by taking the following steps: -turning off all electronics, including laptops and televisions -finding an isolated area with minimal outside noises such as traffic and barking dogs -keeping lights to a minimum and shielding them from direct view of others in the room.
Creating a quiet room
Find a room that you can use
Unless you have a very tiny office, there is most likely to be a vacant room or an “overflow” area in your workplace. Make sure there’s an outlet available.
Clean it out
Get rid of all of the rubbish, junk, old furniture and anything else that is ‘stored’ in the room. Start with a blank canvas and give the floor a good clean too.
Get a lock for the door and an in use sign
Make sure that the room can be secured and that also other people know when the room is in use to prevent disturbances.
Add some comfortable furniture
By this I do not mean office chairs or anything that resembles office furniture.
You should choose soft, comfortable chairs that people can relax into, bean bags and couches are popular as they allow people to stretch out and relax.
Furniture does not mean desks and computers – you should ban all electronics from the room as these are often a significant cause of noise, stress and distraction.
This includes mobile phones.
Get a white noise generator to help with relaxation
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Don’t let people eat in the room
It is a quiet room, not a canteen or cafe.
Make sure that people understand the purpose of the room, that it exists for people to take a break and switch off – perhaps to meditate, pray or undertake some mindfulness exercises.
It is not a place for eating lunch or drinking coffee, or for having workplace meetings either.
Don’t overdo lighting
Natural light and lamps are the best solutions for lighting the room, with soft shades to create a relaxed and subdued atmosphere.
Overhead, office style or fluorescent lighting will be of no help whatsoever and will destroy the quiet space that you are trying to create.
Create an outside space
A quiet area outside of your building will allow employees to go for walks or take a short break during their working day. This can help them regain their focus and concentration.
Encourage employees to spend some time in the quiet room
If you’ve already created a quiet room, it’s likely that not many of your employees will be using it.
This needs to change and you should make regular use of the quiet room part of your organisation’s culture.
By allowing them a couple of hours per week to visit the quiet room, you can encourage them to switch off from their work and take some time out.
This is a win-win situation for everyone; it’s good for employees’ mental health to have some down time in order not to get too stressed or burned out and it also helps to maintain morale.
Create a quiet room at home
If you can’t find space for a separate quiet room at work, perhaps you should make one at home.
It may sound ridiculous to create your own ‘home’ version of an office-style quiet room or meditation area in your lounge but it’s actually not that difficult if you follow these steps:
-Refuse to have the television or radio on at all times – if you feel as though you need background noise, consider using a white noise generator or buy some nature CDs
-Refuse to entertain others when they come around unless it is a prearranged activity. This will mean that you have some time for yourself and that you can relax when you are at home.
-Create a space where there is no smartphone access – if you must have technology in your quiet room, make sure it’s switched on silent and not within reach of other people in the house.
Final Words
A quiet room can do wonders for personal health as just a small amount of ‘downtime’ can make a huge difference.
Use these tips to create your very own quiet room and encourage others in your workplace to do the same.
It might seem like a funny thing at first, but once you have used it, you will wonder how you ever managed without one.
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