Today’s bits of wisdom come from our own Ashley Festa. Ashley joined us here not long ago to try to improve her career options. And she’s done a remarkable job of building the confidence necessary to get the job done. As a result, her client base is growing. All newbies should watch her, for she’s building it the right way.
Ashley takes on the topic of working remotely. It’s something that resonates with all of us who have tried escaping the four walls for free WiFi and an overpriced latte.
5 Ways to Work despite Distractions
by Ashley Festa
I work more efficiently in a quiet environment, but as a freelance writer, the silence can be deafening. We all try to find a little company from time to time, whether at a café with WiFi, at a community workspace or just in our own living room with the spouse/kids/animals nearby. Either way, those temporary co-workers usually come with their fair share of noise. We welcome it in the lonely working world of freelancing, but hey, I still have to be able to hear myself think. Here are a few ways that help me get the work done despite the distractions.
1. Bring alternate noise: The most effective way for me is to bring my own arsenal – something to drown out the noise. Pull out your ear buds and turn on the playlist you know by heart. Hearing music that I don’t actually have to listen to can drown out the noise and still allow me to think. Keep it low-key. If the lyrics break your concentration, try instrumental. But please, no Ride of the Valkyries. (And now a five-minute intermission for me to go listen to it on YouTube…)
2. Tune it out: After having worked in several newsrooms with reporters and editors shouting back and forth, the sports department cheering for the game on TV and the copy editor beside me cursing under his breath all night, I know a thing or two about trying to concentrate in a noisy environment. Now, I simply tune it out. Granted, this takes practice, but if you have kids, you probably do this all the time. If I’m on a roll, you’re going to have to say my name (loudly) if you want my attention because I can’t hear you.
3. Come prepared to relocate: I know, I know. You don’t want to give up your primo spot next to the electrical outlet. But if you make sure your laptop is juiced up before you arrive, you’ll be able to move to a quieter corner if a family with four kids all under age 6 crashes the booth next to you. And who knows, maybe you can get a free latte by trading your seat to a desperate writer who came less prepared than you. You know that frantic, my-computer’s-about-to-die-and-I’m-on-deadline look. Just don’t let it be on your face.
4. Step away: If there’s a particularly annoying person being super-loud directly in your ear, walk away for a minute or two. Clearly all those noisy customers don’t realize how very busy you are – totally rude, I know. But chances are good that if you get up, go to the bathroom or get a drink, that inconsiderate jerk will have finished his oh-so-hilarious story and you can get back to work. (Or maybe it’s a good time to listen to Ride of the Valkyries; believe me, you can’t concentrate during that song anyway.)
5. If all else fails, give in: Sometimes I just can’t fight it. The conversation is too good to be ignored, and really, I needed a breather. Think of it as a stop at the freelancers’ water cooler. Get it out of your system, and then buckle down again. You won’t be distracted anymore, and the break probably brought you a fresh perspective and a little inspiration, didn’t it? I thought so.
That’s what works for me. Do you work better in silence or with hustle and bustle around you? Have you found other ways to focus despite the noise?
9 responses to “Guest Post: Working Through the Noise”
Ashley-one of the biggest adjustments I have had to make in the last year is going from working alone at home to moving in with my 87-year old mother.
My dad died a few years ago and I the real estate market didn't make it ideal for my Mom to move in with me. So, have laptop-will-travel, I moved into her home.
Love her a bunch, but I just can't seem to stop her from constantly interrupting my work. Going out to a Wi-Fi spot just isn't an option for me.
I have lots of string instruments CDs (which I've always used) so I plug them in to drown out the background noise. I am an early riser (around 5 am) and Mom doesn't get up until 7:30 or 8 am. So, I try to do most of my productive writing then (right after visiting Lori's blog). 🙂
I constantly remind myself that I would be really sorry if I didn't have this time with my Mom so it puts it all in perspective. If WAHMs can do it, so can I. You can't put a price tag on family.
Enjoyed your post, Ashley!
Cathy, you're exactly right. Work can't come before family because people are just too important. Work will always be there, but children will grow up and parents will age, so we have to enjoy them while we can. I'm glad you're finding ways to make your career work around your mom!
I work well with my rain forest and ocean wave meditation music. The music is light and the sounds of nature refreshes me.
I can't work with too much silence as it makes me think too much. I tend to think about things that end up worrying me which shoots my focus down the drain. I also can't work with hustle and bustle as they tend to tense me up, which also affects my focus.
I find the meditation music is the perfect balance for my needs. Some people find that it makes them sleepy, but It works well for me.
I'm with you there, Wendy. I had a boss when I was in Corporate America who told me walking into my office was like walking into a spa for a massage. 🙂
Wendy, I don't like too much bustle either, especially if it's people I know. For some reason, strangers bother me less.
Cathy, I think I'd like working in an office like that!
Back in my magazine days, I used to be able to handle everything the art department would subject us to. And lord knows that could be just about anything.
But on my own, I prefer what I've got right now: windows open and just the white noise of quails in the yard and distant airplanes. I manage it OK when the kids are home on various school breaks, and I can operate with the background noise in most wifi spots, but I'm far more productive flying solo. Yeah, it makes me feel old in the cranky old man, get-offa-my-lawn kind of way.
Jake, the older I get, the more I'm turning into a cranky old man (er, woman) too. I'll take peace and quiet over hustle and bustle any day.
I have a desktop, so I've managed to avoid trying to work in a public place. I don't think I could. I'm one of those people who's always sure someone's going to sneak up and steal something when I'm not paying attention to my surroundings.
To avoid the feeling of isolation, I usually tune in a talk radio station (not ones with argumentative blowhards trying to spark controversy). I consider many of the on-air people – hosts, news, traffic, weather and even sports reporters – as my virtual co-worker.
Today I wish I could drown out the sound of the strong winds blowing things into the side of the house. Who knew autumn leaves could make such noise? I'm sure anyone else in the Great Lakes Region knows what I'm talking about today.
I work from a coffee shop at least once or twice a week. If it gets too loud for me there, I just put in my headphones & listen to my iPod. I have a playlist that I use over & over, so it's just background at this point. Perfect for concentrating on writing.