Working in an open plan office can be draining for an introvert. The constant overstimulation from one-sided phone calls, colleagues walking by your desk, small talk chit-chats, even the sound of typing or flickering light across the room can leave introverts curled on the couch at the end of the day.
Despite the increasing awareness around introversion, it is (sadly) likely that the concept of open plan offices is here to stick around for a while. And for us introverts to thrive and become successful, it is important that we are resilient and try our best to take care of ourselves in our extrovert-favouring environments.
Get a pair of noise cancelling headphones
Limit noise distractions with a pair of noise cancelling headphones. I found that wearing them also have other benefits. For example, a bulky pair makes it obvious for colleagues that it would take a little extra effort to interrupt you, making them think twice before they try to approach you.
Make use of quiet spaces
Most offices have quiet spaces. Utilising them, even for an hour a day will help you regain energy and focus more on your work. If you have meeting rooms, take advantage of them when they’re not booked or when they’re likely to not be required.
Work when everyone’s not
There’s just something about working in an empty office. I don’t know what it is but maybe it’s not having that feeling of someone looking over your shoulder (even when you know no one really is). For me, our office is mostly empty during public holidays. You’d often find me at work when everyone is likely to be on vacation. This does not only help with my productivity, but it also saves up my annual leave so I can book it later when everyone is at work – a way for me to minimise my people interactions throughout the year. It does not seem much, but trust me it helps.
Change your work hours
Minimise the hours in your day that you spend around people by changing your work hours. If you can, simply moving your work hours earlier or later than everyone else can give you an hour or so in your working day alone or with less people. Go ahead and ask your manager if you could change your work hours. The worse that could happen is they’ll say ‘no’, but if they say ‘yes’, you may find just how helpful it is to you.
Shift seats
I made a rule at work that because I am easily distracted, I need to always have the end seat. Whether it’s by the window, or end of the row. This really helped me because I feel that I have more space by only having someone on one side.
When you’re in the office, take a look around and see if there’s any where you can move to. Scout for seats by the wall or a corner, one that looks out a window or even an aisle seat is better than sitting between people.
Take walks
For me taking walks throughout the day is a small way for me to regain my energy – almost like micro-recharging. Pick a park nearby or a quiet area to walk around and get away from the bustle of the office.
Goodluck!
Tread carefully! In open space environments, people that are seen tend to be rewarded. People that are visible tend to be believed to be doing work, while those who are not seen, tend to be dismissed. In actuality, personality science confirms that different personalities need different environments to thrive. An open environment can be very draining for someone who is a strong introvert. When you are in the office make those moments count, make certain the right people see you and that you can highlight the work you may be tackling at home, in the private pod, or the local library.