| Stress is a fact of life that most of us have learned to | | | | of us. If your desk is buried under piles of old files and |
| accept and grown accustomed to enduring in our busy | | | | junk mail, your mind can easily trail off to thinking about |
| lives. But minimizing noise, an element that often | | | | what's in the pile instead of being focused on the task |
| compounds stress, can lead to better concentration, | | | | at hand. |
| increased productivity and can reduce your overall | | | | Tune the Noise Out ? Even after making sure there |
| stress level. | | | | are no distractions in your own personal space, you still |
| There are many types of audio and visual noise that | | | | face the noise of others. Especially for many of us |
| can cause distractions that break concentration and | | | | who work in open offices with cubicles, something as |
| increase stress. There's the noise of traffic and | | | | small as a quiet conversation between two coworkers |
| conversations when we're walking down the street, | | | | can destroy our concentration. Earplugs are an option, |
| but then there's the subtle everyday noises of our | | | | but are limited in their ability to truly turn off the outside |
| homes and offices that can easily distract us: doors | | | | noise in your environment. A set of headphones, such |
| shutting, the television playing, conversations in the next | | | | as the EX29 Extreme Isolation Noise Reduction |
| cube, phones ringing, fingers tapping on the keyboard. | | | | Headphones, can completely tune out the noise. Unlike |
| A study conducted by Cornell University found that | | | | noise cancellation headphones that attempt to balance |
| office workers exposed to constant noise showed | | | | the noise coming into the headphones to the noise |
| physiological signs of stress, even though they did not | | | | outside of the headphones to create quiet, noise |
| report feeling stressed at all. Not only does the noise | | | | reduction headphones go a step further and block |
| distract you, but it can be stressing you and you don't | | | | outside noise. In addition to blocking out distracting |
| even realize it. | | | | noises to help increase concentration, the EX29 |
| While we can't necessarily control the fact that the | | | | Extreme Isolation headphones do not need batteries |
| noises exist, there are ways to minimize or eliminate | | | | and you can wear them for hours without fatigue. If |
| these noises from infiltrating our personal space. | | | | you use them to listen to music, you do not have to |
| And when outside and background noise is minimized | | | | raise the volume to override outside noise ? instead, |
| or eliminated, the result can be a noticeably positive | | | | you will be able to enjoy the intricate nuances of your |
| change in human productivity. A study by the Federal | | | | favorite music. |
| Interagency Committee on Aviation Noise revealed | | | | Get Your Downward Dog On ? A routine yoga |
| that when the outside noise of airplanes flying over a | | | | practice can reduce the ?noise in your head? so that |
| school was reduced, test scores among high school | | | | when you do sit down to concentrate, you won't be |
| students increased by 12%. Now, airplanes are a | | | | distracted by the noise between your ears. There are |
| dramatic example of noise, but the evidence shown in | | | | several different types of Yoga for various fitness |
| the study speaks for itself ? reduction in noise reduces | | | | levels, and with the focus on breathing to ease the |
| distractions, increases productivity. | | | | flow of oxygen throughout the body, most people |
| Here are some suggestions to reduce the sources of | | | | notice a significant difference in stress levels from their |
| noise and stress in your life. | | | | very first Yoga session. There are many medical |
| Check Your Environment ? When you sit down to | | | | research reports to support the health benefits of the |
| complete a task that requires your full attention, and | | | | exercise done in Yoga, and many Yogis claim success |
| you find yourself easily distracted, take a look around | | | | in gaining an ability to focus on the present moment, |
| ? is your office disorganized, have a d飯r that | | | | making them more productive and less stressed than |
| encourages a lack of concentration, or is the furniture | | | | non-Yogis. |
| arranged in a way that encourages distraction? For | | | | Research from sources such as Cornell University, |
| example, if your desk faces a window that overlooks | | | | Yale University, University College London, and the |
| a busy street, maybe you should turn your desk in | | | | National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health |
| another direction. How does your space or office feel? | | | | point to a link between noise and stress. While there |
| If the colors and d飯r are too loud and busy | | | | are many other ways to reduce the stress in your life, |
| with bright colors, patterns and designs, it may be time | | | | the above suggestions are a prescription to minimizing |
| for a makeover to tone it down a bit if the space is | | | | the noise and stress that you inevitably face everyday. |
| constantly distracting, rather than inspiring, you. On the | | | | Lee Blue is a musician and home studio recording artist. |
| other end of the spectrum, if your office d飯r | | | | He uses Extreme Isolation headphones in his recording |
| has muted tones and bare walls, you may need to | | | | studio and his office to block out noise and distractions. |
| spruce it up a bit to make your office more interesting. | | | | Learn more about noise reduction headphones. |
| Lastly, clutter is an unappreciated distraction for many | | | | |