Noisy Coworkers: How To De-stress Yourself
Noisy coworkers are just another burden in the already over-stressed workplace. Just what we do not need! While there might be days when it seems that going ballistic on these courtesy-challenged people would feel great, or where we just want to run away for the afternoon, this is counterproductive to say the least . There are clearly more sensible and helpful ways to deal with these people.
The best idea is to avoid your noisy co-workers whenever possible. There are several simple ways to avoid these people. Depending on what type of job you have, you could listen to music on an Ipod or MP3 player. Another option is to invest in a pair of ear plugs and wear them at work.
One of the best ways to de-stress from noisy coworkers and break up your day is to take a leisurely walk on your lunch break; the fresh, clear air will do your sanity some good. If nothing else is working for you, it may be worth trying to slide the noise level into conversation.
A major source of tension in the workplace can be the ambient office noise which is hardly noticeable. This can include the squeaking of desk chairs, the shrill ring of the telephone, the tapping sounds from the keyboards, and the conversations of the individual in the neighboring cubicle. The most important thing to remember is that if you can tune out these distractions and concentrate on your work, everything will be just fine. However, this is not as quite as easy as it may sound.
There are different levels of the "annoying coworker". There is the coworker that annoys you without realizing they are doing it, this can be solved with a simple polite conversation. Then there is the coworker that goes out of their way to annoy you, yes we all have these, in this type of situation it would be best to avoid the person until their little tirade ends if possible. If you can't avoid the person annoying try talking to them about the situation, sometimes a simple compromise will fix the issue.
If you can't find any way to arrive at a solution by talking directly to an annoying coworker, you may have to handle the problem by speaking to your employer. That is not recommended until after you have spoken to the troublesome individual and explained that you are being distracted from your work. Keep in mind that you must display professional behavior whatever the outcome.
Noisy coworkers can drive anyone crazy. Some days the work just keeps piling up as the coworkers continue to be loud and distracting. They can be a source of extra stress and reduced productivity. Anyone could be tempted to throw a fit right in their own cubicle. Don't over-react though, since it is not worth it in the end. Something that can create a lot of stress at work is the simple "office noise" which we sometimes don't even notice, things like the chair squeaking, phones ringing, clicking keyboards, and having to hear voices of the annoying coworker who are in the next cubicle.
Published November 10th, 2008
Filed in Career
