Which apps and tools help me focus in public spaces, coffee shops and open-plan offices?
Public spaces have the interesting and annoying habit of being entertaining & refreshing to work from. However, they can also be noisy and full of distractions. Having the right tools and apps will help you to overcome these distractions.
Now each of us approaches distractions and noise in different ways, meaning there is no one-size-fits-all approach to this. This article will highlight a range of ways that I have found useful in the past.
My Approach
Distractions and noise can be a nuisance at times, and it is important to ensure that you do not lose focus and productivity due to these distractions when you have important work to do.
When I want to avoid the noise and distraction of public space I use the following two apps and tools: Headphones and Spotify.
For me, the headphones reduce enough of the noise, and Spotify creates a barrier between me and distractions so I can get back and focus. For me this is all I need to be able to push unhelpful distractions away.
This approach also makes it easy to easily re-engage with the space around you when you need too.
Now, I understand you are asking: Joe, what tunes do you listen to? Mainly my liked songs, or the Stellaris soundtrack. Trust me, it is a great soundtrack to get on with work.
I also use the P9 Headphones available on Amazon as they have a good quality of sound for a very reasonable price.
Overall, my approach is simple, if you are in a public space like a coffee shop you have to expect there to be noise, distractions and
Music plus headphones is a great combination, however, it might not be for you. Below I will highlight some other tools that can help.
Other Tools
There are a range of other tools and apps that can help you stay productive and focused in a public place.
Other music streaming services include: Apple Music, Deezer, YouTube Music are all alternatives to Spotify.
Podcasts: Another excellent way to block out the noise of a coffee shop is via headphones. Good podcasts to choose from must keep you interested enough to block our other noises, but not too interesting it stops you from working.
Earplugs: Earplugs are another way to reduce noise levels and help you focus. Earplugs have come a long way over the last few years and there are now a plethora of earplugs on the marketplace that help reduce the amount of sound that enters the ear without blocking out all noises.
My recommendation would be Audioflare as my partner has used these plugs in the past.
Distraction Apps: Apps like Clearspace and Freedom can help you stay focused in public spaces when you are trying to work. They limit the digital distractions that can interrupt your day whether you are at home at the office or indeed in a coffee shop.
Baseball caps: Preferably not a red one that says MAGA on it, but a baseball cap positioned correctly can reduce your field of vision helping to keep your eyes focused on the screen that you need to work on and eliminating the eyeliner distractions of people walking and moving about. This is a pretty cool hat.
Final Thoughts
Staying focused in a public space presents a range of challenges that are different from the office or working from home. However, with the right combination of tools and possibly apps you can stay distraction-free and productive without sacrificing the reasons you want to work out in public.
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