Page 8 - PA_Enterprise_August-September_2021

PA Enterprise

Returning to the workplace?

Here’s how to stay focused in

a noisy office

With some offices set to reopen as restrictions ease, more of us may soon

be working from somewhere other than the kitchen table. While a return
to the office may sound thrilling for some, this isn’t going to be the case for

everyone.

A 2020 poll from YouGov found that most A 2020 poll from YouGov found that most
workers want to continue to work from home in workers want to continue to work from home in
some capacity after restrictions lift. But with news some capacity after restrictions lift. But with news
that some firms have requested staff to return that some firms have requested staff to return
to the office from September (in some form or to the office from September (in some form or
another), office life will be on the horizon for at another), office life will be on the horizon for at
least some of us. least some of us.
For many people, a return to the office may also For many people, a return to the office may also
mean a return to shared workspaces, which may mean a return to shared workspaces, which may
take a bit of adjustment after so long working at take a bit of adjustment after so long working at
home. This may be particularly the case if your at home. This may be particularly the case if your at
home office has been fairly quiet. home office has been fairly quiet.
Shared working spaces can mean more Shared working spaces can mean more
interruptions and noise to contend with. And this interruptions and noise to contend with. And this
can increase feelings of stress and frustration. can increase feelings of stress and frustration.
Research, for example, shows that when we get Research, for example, shows that when we get
interrupted and have to unexpectedly suspend interrupted and have to unexpectedly suspend
what we’re doing to complete a separate activity what we’re doing to complete a separate activity
– such as have an impromptu meeting with a – such as have an impromptu meeting with a
colleague – our memory for the original task can colleague – our memory for the original task can
decay. This can make it harder to pick up where decay. This can make it harder to pick up where
we left off when we resume working. we left off when we resume working.

With some offices set to reopen as restrictions Interruptions also increase the chance of errors
ease, more of us may soon be working from and omissions creeping in to our work. This can
somewhere other than the kitchen table. While a result in inaccuracies or more time needed to
return to the office may sound thrilling for some, rectify those mistakes.
this isn’t going to be the case for everyone. Studies show that we don’t even have to stop and

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8 August/September 2021