Just wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to do paperwork when you're in a cubicle in an office area.

I get back to the office on my partime job and sit down to write case notes. I hear every conversation going on in the office area and find my mind drifting off into one of many different subjects. I've even written information from what someone else said into my notes before:(.

Headphones with the mp3 player. That's what I have to do at school when I use the computers there.

have you tried using headphones.. to block out the outside noise?

Will they allow you to use earphones?
I write similar stuff sometimes. Like one time I was buying a video and I signed my name as "video"! LOL
My real name starts with a V so I wrote that instead of my name!

I actually had someone I work with at the office today and I have to assist her with her time sheet, with all the talking going on, I started filling in my own name on the time
sheet.:o

have you tried using headphones.. to block out the outside noise?
I"ve never asked, but most times it's not feasible since we don't have individual cubicles, so everything I have with me I bring in with me.

Sometimes my DD puts her IPod ear buds in her ears and leaves the IPod off. That shuts out enough noise that she can concentrate. When there was major construction going on outside my building, we all wore rubbery orange hearing protectors that kind of screw into your ear to fit properly. Both of those options are portable enough to take back and forth. Would the powers that be allow either, do you think?

Is there a lunch or conference room you can use?

they're expensive, but i got some Bose quiet comfort noise-cancelling headphones for work and studying. I love them. I got the ones that go around your ears. You don't have to plug them into music if you don't want. You can just turn them on and they dampen the white noise around you, but you can still hear if someone is trying to talk to you.

Roly poly:
Wow - cubicles...I think I'd die!
Whenever I try to do something and someone is talking, I just screw up, screw up bad, and do it fast! :P
I just can't concentrate with people around me, I need real walls.
I admire you for being at least semi able to do what you do!

Hope you find a solution.
I use my mp3player a lot. Sometimes with no music, and a good thing about that is also that people are less likely to disturb you if they can see that you wear earphones. :)

whatwereUsaying:
Wow, never heard about those before!
They sure sound like something that could help me when I have to focus in an "unfriendly" environment! Thanks. :)

I would quickly break down into madness in a cubicle :( I was in one much of my school years "to avoid distraction" and to break my spirit. :)

Is there a lunch or conference room you can use?
I used the conference room today, but got kicked out before I was done.:(

Try the ear plug thingy's Roly, its sounds like a good idea. You could try little ones that people don't see.

There are inexpensive, soft, foam ear plugs in a various levels of noise reduction, softness levels, etc. in the eye-and-ear care section of many stores. I just did a quick google search for "foam ear plugs" and found an online store that has quite a wide variety, sample packs too! There are a couple sample packs that let you try 30 assorted pairs for only about $9 USD. (I put the link at the end of this post if you want to take a look.)

This might be an option for you if the MP3 player idea doesn't work out, if you don't want cords hanging from your ears (those drive me crazy, even though I endure if I'm listening to music), or so no one can tell what you're wearing.

The main idea of these would be to create 'white noise' for yourself - just a dull muffled constant roaring sound to cover up some of the stimuli. Like other people have said, you can still hear if someone wants to speak with you.

How cube-ish are those cubicles? Are you okay with the visual situation? Would you say that the cubicle set-up is helpful in this way? In some ways, this sounds ideal. I'm thinking about when I'm trying to work - sometimes I end up looking up at any tiny little movement, and I can't stay on task whatsoever... cubicle might be helpful for this, or it might make things worse not being able to see!!

And mincan - what a terrible 'cubicle' story -- the ONLY reason to use that should have been because YOU personally found it to be helpful. Such a gross abuse of an "adaptation" meant to be helpful! Sorry to jump on my soapbox...

link: http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/unfoamtrialp.html
(http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/unfoamtrialp.html)

i use my ipod.

I'm going to try earplugs, I don't own an Ipod, and don't have enough tunes to downlod onto one anyway, but wouldn't mind using one if I did.

Roly there are some mp3 players that offer a radio and with the noise cancellation headphones, you can shut anyone out. Also, if you're allowed to stream online...there is always music sites or news sites that can help tune them out and allow you to focus.

...there is always music sites or news sites that can help tune them out and allow you to focus.

Pandora (http://www.pandora.com/) is a great site which you can customize to the style, tempo, mood, etc.

Meds... I think I doubled my productivity since I started it. It does feel for me like a noise canceling device.

*SIGH!*
I used to listen to Pandora all the time, but it's not available in Europe anymore. :(

Instead, I use Last.fm now.
A poor replacement, but the best there is right now, and far better than DK radioshows.

music helps u zone out:) or zone in to what u need to do

*SIGH!*
I used to listen to Pandora all the time, but it's not available in Europe anymore. :(




It's not here either, at least not in the form it used to be :( It was so cool too!

iTunes gets me by now. I'm addicted.

You've all been very helpful, thank you. I just wish that cubicles would be banned for office use, I fail to see where productivity is enhanced.:mad:

I refuse to be the thread killer on this one.:D

I love these guys! The Cubes rawk!

http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A1982/198259/470_198259.jpg

But I'd jump off the building if I had to work there.

lol, they only rock when you're viewing them from the outside.:eek:

I love these guys! The Cubes rawk!

http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A1982/198259/470_198259.jpg

But I'd jump off the building if I had to work there.

How is your supervisor I used to have one who let me work from home on occasion. Where I work now I cannot do so, can you use ear plugs? Or just tell others to pipe down if possible. I know for me we all have our own phones so we are all talking at the same time most days and some days it gets ugly when a co-worker is dealing with a difficult client. Oh another idea see if you can flex your schedule like starting early or work later when everyone is gone.

Roly my cubicles are not even closed off I am in the open, heck you cannot break wind without someone knowing or hearing.

Roly my cubicles are not even closed off I am in the open, heck you cannot break wind without someone knowing or hearing.
I just think the idea is outlandish and not condusive to productivity, I tend to try to find times when the fewest people are there, I still need to buy some earplugs, but I'll avoid cubicles when I can. All phone lines in use is usually the worst.:eek:

I was going to suggest an iPod, too. Right now, we're in the process of remodeling one of our office buildings, and my 'office' is a conference room that I share with 2-3 other people plus volunteers at any given time. It's frustrating only because we're also right by the kitchen, so I hear any conversation that goes on. And I am incredibly busy right now, so not only do I feel like I'm being listened to, but I feel like I'm bugging everyone else in my office.

Cubicles will be collected world wide and shipped to New Jersey on Aug 19, 2008. There they will be piled really high and set ablaze.

I use my Ipod to drownd otu the noise in the office.

Cubicles will be collected world wide and shipped to New Jersey on Aug 19, 2008. There they will be piled really high and set ablaze.


Ohhhhhh, sounds divine! Can I bring marshmallows?