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Silence is making a comeback in offices. Coveted by employees, acclaimed in the media and validated by science, discover the many benefits of silence in the office.
“49% of French people say they are bothered by noise and noise pollution in their workplace”
“What is this office without atmosphere where nobody speaks“? In the past, certain work environments deemed “too quiet” were viewed with suspicion. However, today, in a fast-paced society where people increasingly saturate with noise, the silence is gradually regaining its letters of nobility. Including at work. Without calling into question the pleasant side of discussions between colleagues around the coffee machine or the effectiveness of “brainstorming” sessions, many professionals insist more and more more about the need to work in open spaces where silence is king.
According an Ifop pollpublished in September 2021, 49% of French people say they are bothered by noise and noise pollution in their workplace. Noise pollution has multiple sources: telephone ringtones, noisy conversations, the hum of the printer or the coffee machine… Suffering all day long from these incessant noises can be harmful to concentration and become a source of of stress.
Science also validates the idea that silence is synonymous with creativity and productivity at work. An experiment carried out in 2021 by the company Trust Source on 59 participants demonstrated in particular that tasks requiring concentration carried out in complete silence contribute to decrease cognitive load and the stress level.
“Silence is fundamental for the proper functioning of the brain. When we promote silence, the parasympathetic system activates. Our brain then switches to a state of disconnection which helps it to regenerate. In less noisy environments, such as during a walk in the forest for example, the cardiovascular system, less under pressure, reduces the negative effects of stress. In addition, silence or places with less noise are conducive to creativity and memory.“, explains researcher Michel Le Van Quyen in neuroscience in an article published on the Inserm website.
To reduce noise in your workplace and give free rein to your creativity, there are several simple solutions to put in place: take a meditative moment by looking up from your screen and looking away, wear headphones noise canceling on your ears, clear your mind for a few minutes or even walk alone in a quiet place during the lunch break.
Agreeing to a “media diet” is also advisable. It’s about cutting yourself off from all sources of information (media, social networks) for a set period of time each day. Thus, your mental space and liberated.
Moreover, this need for silence is not only illustrated at work. It is also more and more coveted on the vacation spot. An evolution that has even given rise to the trend of “quiet parks”. Green spaces where silence is king, with the only sound distractions being the sounds of flora and fauna.