Listen to Ambient Sounds for FOCUS
Are you finding it hard to be productive because of the environment you are in?
Do you spend your days working in a crowded cafe where you don't feel comfortable at all? Or perhaps you are working in big cubicle offices - or even open space offices with very loud co-workers?
Sadly, these things are widespread when working in places that don't seem to be suitable for focus work. Distractions start to emerge, and it becomes difficult - if not impossible - to be wholly focused in those places.
This constant noise that surrounds you can, in turn, make you live in a state of continuous procrastination, something that all employers would like to avoid.
I know this first hand because I too ended up leaving my jobs and tasks right until the last minute. I did this not because I felt like I had a good reason to procrastinate. But because I could not summon the necessary attention, I needed to do my work.
And it's not a great situation to be in if I'm honest. Especially when your work life starts looking compromised. More often than not, I kept on thinking that I needed to complete my job, regardless of whether I was truly focused or not.
But I had to find a solution. A working solution. And I did, and now I would love to share these tips on how to be productive and beat all the noises that surround you, so you too can feel completely comfortable at work.
I started practicing mindfulness, and my whole life changed. Gradually, I became fully aware of my consciousness. Still, I also grew aware of the effect mindfulness and meditation had on me.
Of course, I also discovered that both mindfulness and meditation helped me obtain inner peace. They gave me the tools to become more focused, and, at the same time, they also showed me where I'm falling behind, sort of speak. But what caught my attention the most was the fact that as soon as I started my mindfulness journey, I also became aware of my professional side of life and how I dealt with my businesses. The more aware I was in my personal life, the better my business would go. And, of course, this was a reciprocal thing.
Being mindful means that I am aware of what is happening right at this moment, and this can become a continuous state of mind.
So, let's go back and talk about mindfulness and how to be productive, and let's take my job as an example.
If I'm working at the moment, and I need to be super productive to finish a task, mindfulness can give me the 'extra' boost I need to achieve this.
So, I need to finish a task, I am aware of this, I work hard, and I achieve it. I don't look at the sides, I look right in front of me, and I am focused on what needs to be done.
This was a great way to do business, I used to think. It was working out for me.
Until I started working in an open space office, and it seemed like I was at a constant party. It seemed like all of a sudden, my productivity and focus diminished because I was not able to concentrate on what I had to do anymore. I was busy asking others to lower their voices, or I was busy going out to other places to do some work.
At the office, everybody was laughing, chatting, making calls, etc. But I always felt stressed out to the max, because I was still focusing my full attention to block the external noise, instead of focusing on my work.
I couldn't handle loud environments like that anymore. A colleague suggested I should use noise-blocking headphones, which I bought immediately, and this made my productivity increase a bit.
Mindfulness and headphones really helped me - and they still do- a lot. But then I needed something that would help me concentrate even more. Especially during the times when I was right in the middle of a loud environment (whether it was my apartment, a coffee shop, a cubicle office, or even inside my mind!).
But I needed more help, I could still see and hear - albeit to a lesser degree - people laughing and chatting, and I even started to think I was the only one who had to get some work done.
That's when I found noise-blocking sounds, and it definitely changed the game for me.
Which is an excellent thing because you cannot be productive if you feel burned out, sick, or stressed out. It can also give you a sense of clarity regarding those things that really matter in your daily life.
Also, if your mind gets easily distracted, having background music can redirect you towards getting your work done. So, instead of having a mind that drifts away each time a new thought pops up, your consciousness can and will refocus yourself on what you have in front of you.
All human brains have the ability to send adequate signals to the rest of the body, so it can function correctly. These signals have been thoroughly studied, and they are called brain waves. These brain waves help us lead how the rest of us will feel during a specific day or situation. For example, you are feeling stressed out because you cannot be productive and focused, thanks to the loud environment you are in.
Your brain will almost automatically send a brain wave, which is sort of like a signal- to the rest of your body. It's done so through some neurons, which, in turn, form a chain of communication with other neurons. This way, they will keep the message alive throughout your body, and they will all remind you of how stressed you are.
This is - of course, in a very simplified way - how all of our feelings are processed as well. It's a constant non-stop, 24/7 neural communication that can easily go back and forth at any given time, within our bodies.
These brain waves can be activated by particular sound waves. So, a sound wave can help you feel relaxed, more alert, and more focused, by sending this positive message to your brain, who will, in turn, translate this as a good sign for the rest of your body through its brain waves.
Unique sound waves that will help you block noises can be pink, brown, or white. They have become very popular due to the increasing amount of research and studies that have been conducted.
I know I started to maximize my productivity levels by using these sound waves, so I can guarantee you that I am happier. As a consequence, my clients are happier too!
Brain Wave sounds will also help you
Now you know how brain waves work, why don't you try a specific sound whenever you feel stressed out or without focus?
Put your headphones on and start off listening to brain waves for ten minutes at a time. If you feel comfortable, you may increase your exposure.
For a clear and focused state-of-mind, I would suggest Theta brain waves, as they can help you feel relaxed, yet you will still be productive. Theta brain waves can be found during the three stages of NREM sleep, which is why you will feel relaxed yet conscious.
Sounds can help you to focus and be more productive. Even if it sounds like a strange concept at first, you should give it a try and see for yourself what happens.
Head over to our ambient sound generator ZENmix.io, select some sounds you like, and start your first productivity session.
Another great thing about using our sound generator is that you can use it for other things too. Want to relax in nature but live in a concrete jungle? Turn on our nature sounds and relax. Want to meditate, and you need to calm down a bit more? Use our soothing music and sounds.
There is no limit. Use it to relax or focus in your life. You can even use it without internet access when you get the mobile apps.
Once you regain your focus, you will become productive, and once you become productive, you will achieve success. But for you to be productive, you must become aware of the present moment. Those loud environments will come and go, just like your thoughts will come and go as well. It's up to you to turn this situation around and be able to overcome it or stick to how things are and complain about not being able to change it.
You have the techniques (such as meditation and mindfulness), and you have the noise-blocking, ambient sound generator to create your own bubble of silence.
How great is that!?
But, what's more, what are you going to do with these things now?
Exactly, go for it!
You can do this and more!