Ask HN: Devs in open space offices: How do you manage to focus?

4 points·lewisjoe··3 comments

Today, my team moved from a typical workplace to an open plan office style workplace. While the friction in firing up a talk with a colleague has definitely reduced, I find it very hard to focus with things constantly moving in my sight/viewport.

People who've managed to stay productive in such workspaces, can you toss me some advice?

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Big, bulky noise–canceling headphones are a must.

If you can put up a screen behind your display (posterboard works quite well for this) you can block out distracting movements around the edges of your display.

Learn to ignore people hovering behind you. If they want to interrupt you then they must actively tap you on the shoulder or something.

I found working in a totally open–plan office terrible for writing and programming, even with headphones. Semi–open plan (cubicles with decent dividers) worked as did semi–private offices with 4-6 people.

I too have benefitted from noise-canceling headphones (Bose QuietComfort 25). On top of that, I use a technique called neural entrainment: an audio track with a specific repetitive beat which helps you attain a state of focus and flow. In fact, I am in the process of creating a product with neural entrainment audio tracks. If you are interested, let me know...

Noise cancelling headphones and music works for a lot of people

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