You know how the working day tends to go: an energetic 'I can OWN this day!' start, followed by a post-lunch 'why do the seconds last for actual weeks' slump.
Concentrating on what you're doing can feel like the hardest thing in the world but you never really know why.
Well, according to the Wall Street Journal, the reason we keep losing concentration at work is because of 'visual noise' distracting us from the job at hand.
Visual noise, described by the WSJ as 'the activity or movement around the edges of an employee’s field of vision', can negatively affect creativity, concentration and analytical thinking.
So if you work in an open office space rather than in your own private cubicle, then you might well be being distracted by those around you.
Senior workplace expert Leigh Stringer told the WSJ that the problem isn't just noise, but also a feeling of pressure which arises from being exposed to your boss' gaze for the entire working day.
Everyone's clicking on...
In fact, a study with Chinese factory workers in 2012 found that they were 10% to 15% more productive working behind a curtain, out of sight from their bosses.
So, does this mean we should all get our own private window-view offices with sofas and mini bars and be done with it? As amazing as that sounds, the more practical solution might be building partitions or even strategically placing plants to shield the view of other colleagues.
Jess Edwards is Cosmopolitan UK’s Deputy Editor, working to deliver the very best experiences across the brand's platforms (print, social, video, digital), products and events, including a focus on our membership offering, Club Cosmo. Jess has worked in the media industry for almost 20 years and at Cosmopolitan for over 10 years, joining the brand as Fashion Editor and later going on to lead the digital team as Site Editor. With her background in lifestyle journalism, it is no surprise that you’re most likely to find her in the Fashion section and exploring the very best in hospitality via our Travel pages.
