1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the New Corner Office, 2 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the 3 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: new world of work, where location and hours are more 4 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: flexible than in the past. Today's tip is to create 5 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: your own soundscape. When you're working remotely, you have the 6 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: opportunity to control the soundtrack for your work, So take 7 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: advantage of this opportunity to boost your productivity and mood. 8 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: If sitcoms and comic strips or any indication, plenty of 9 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 1: people find office sounds distracting, cracking knuckles, whispered phone arguments 10 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:45,919 Speaker 1: that were awkwardly audible, sniffles and stiezes. That's why when 11 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: you're in an office, headphones are key. At home, though, 12 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: you can consider more options. What do you like to 13 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: hear when you're working Silence, white noise, the sound of 14 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: the outdoors like singing birds or wind rustling through the trees. Music, 15 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: and if so, what kind of music? Also notice what 16 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:07,039 Speaker 1: may be competing with your ideal soundtrack other people in 17 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: your house, yard work or maintenance at your neighbor's houses, traffic, 18 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 1: barking dogs, other outdoor sounds. Once you know what you 19 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: want and what you want to block out, you can 20 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,479 Speaker 1: find the tools you need for starters. If nature sounds 21 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 1: work for you and the weather is co operative, open 22 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: your windows. If you prefer working in silence, you could 23 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: try noise canceling headphones, though they're often pricy. A lower 24 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: cost option is old fashioned disposable ear plugs. I like 25 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: max Pillow soft earplugs. I wear them at night and 26 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: they can work for work too. White noise apps can 27 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: be great as well, either played directly from your computers 28 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: or phone speakers or through headphones. Free White Noise dot 29 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: Com and the app called Simply White Noise are worth trying. 30 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: I also have a few stand alone white noise machines 31 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: at my house. They help with letting babies nap regardless 32 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: of household noise, and it turns out that they can 33 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: help adults work regardless of household noise too. Try placing 34 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: one by the door of your office so you can 35 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: have it going even while you're on a call. An 36 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: added bonus, a free standing machine muddles your sound so 37 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 1: that other people in your home don't hear what you're saying. 38 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 1: That's great for having private phone conversations when you need 39 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:23,239 Speaker 1: to and when kids can't hear your voice, they'll be 40 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: less aware of your presence while you're trying to work. 41 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: Lots of people love listening to music, but it needs 42 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: to be the right kind of music. Take a week 43 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 1: or so to experiment. You might like soaring movie soundtracks 44 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 1: for writing, maybe Modzart and Handle for editing, or maybe 45 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 1: a psych up playlist. Before you lead a team meeting, 46 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: you could play music that sounds like a coffee shop 47 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 1: in the background during a social conversation. If creating a 48 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: playlist doesn't sound like fun to you, well, fortunately other 49 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: people have done this work. Just try out a few 50 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: Spotify work from home playlists until you find one you like. 51 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: What's your ideal soundscape for working from home? You can 52 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: let me know at Laura at Laura Vanderkam dot com. 53 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and 54 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: here's to succeeding in the New Corner Office. The New 55 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: Corner Office is a production of I Heart Radio. For 56 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: more podcasts, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 57 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your favorite shows.