Noiseproof your focus nook
Silence, despite what librarians would have us believe, is not necessary for focus. People happily find focus while hearing a faraway freeway, a static electric hum, or bird song.
However, noises that could in theory require our attention — anything unexpected, alarming, or directed at us — those take us out of our focus and back into the real world. These noises force us to make a decision, even if that decision is to do nothing.
As I type this I hear someone outside my window arguing on their phone. It's none of my business and they're far away, yet I'm still thinking about it, trying to interpret what they're saying. Very annoying. Go away.
Creating a completely silent chamber would be one way of getting rid of unwanted noises from the outside world — but probably not a realistic one for most people. Instead, we'll look at how to reduce noise from the outside world without doing anything really weird like stapling egg boxes to the walls.
Ways of reducing unwanted noise
Remove the noise source
Sometimes this is easy…
- Oil squeaky door hinges.
- Move the noisy coffee machine further away from your focus nook.
- Have the furby destroyed (ethically)
Sometimes it isn't feasible…
- Enacting bylaws preventing the use of machinery takes a long time and requires interacting with your community.
- It's easy to get your local airport shut down — but you will go to prison.
- The neighbours are fond of their children and will object to you putting them up for adoption.
Fuzzy and spongy things
Probably the most common and effective way of reducing noise in the home is through the application of fuzzy items such a curtains, rugs, and fabric wall hangings. It's just science — when agitated sound waves hit these soft items they get all comfy and take a nap.
Consider putting up curtains, putting down a rug, or commissioning a tapestry to hang in your focus nook.
Having more fuzzy fibrous things also insulates your home — keeping you warm in the winter. Insulating your roof and walls also reduces sound from the outside world. In fact, anything you would do to insulate your home from cold will also prevent noise from getting in.
Filling in holes and cracks
Noise is sneaky and can fit through tiny holes and cracks. Covering cracks in window frames, between ceiling fixtures, and under doors can prevent noise entering.
Other ways
There are other ways to reduce unwanted noise. Such as acoustic diffusion1 and Helmholtz resonators,2 but they take effort and maths to implement.
Unless your situation is extreme — say your upstairs neighbour is tap dancer or your downstairs neighbour is Lionel Richie — your best bet is to fill your nook with rugs, pillows, and wall hangings.Footnotes