Open workspaces are EVERYWHERE. And they can be very difficult spaces for introverts to work in. They put introverts in constant proximity to other people, which inevitably pulls on their energy.
In some cases, this may make it more difficult for introverts to do their jobs. At the very least, it’s likely to leave most introverts drained by the end of the day than they would be in a more traditional workspace–even if it wasn’t a particularly challenging work day.
I have experience working in an open space. In my previous job, I worked in a college library that was less of a quiet library and more of an active learning environment.
After about a year on the job, I learned to make some changes that significantly improved my work and energy levels. Today, I’m sharing my top eight tips with you!
Of course, not all of these tips will work for everyone, as we all have different workplaces and restrictions. But hopefully, everyone will be able to use at least a few of these techniques.
Without further ado, here are seven tips to help any introvert work better in an open workspace.
Take work outside
One of the biggest perks of living in a modern, mobile society is our ability to work from almost anywhere.
You may have to do some, or even most, of your work in your open office space, but if there’s a task you can do on your laptop, tablet, or even in a notebook, take yourself to a nearby park, or a bench outside and work there. You can let your boss/coworkers know you have your cell phone if they need you for anything.
This gets you out of that open workspace for some time, which likely help you focus and recharge.
Change up your hours
If you have the option, change up your work hours to a time when the open space isn’t as busy.
This may mean going in an hour or two early (and then leaving an hour or two early) or going in late and staying late. This will give you some quiet time in your open work space, and minimize the time you spend in the busier environment.
Honestly, this turned out to be big for me. When I started my old job, I went in from 9 AM – 2 PM. These were some of the busiest times in the library. There was a constant stream of students, and I left every day totally drained.
Once I decided to change my hours to 2 PM – 7 PM, when the library was much more low-key, I was so much more productive and I had so much more energy when I left at the end of the night.
Plug in your headphones
You may not always have the option to remove yourself from the busyness, but headphones can be an isolating force.
You can listen to your favorite music, an audiobook, or (if neither of those work for you) white noise. (Ambient Mixer is one of my favorite things for white noise!)
Headphones can help you tune out the environment around you, help you focus, and act as a Do Not Disturb sign to keep interruptions at a minimum.
You may not feel quite as good as you would if you were able to take yourself out of the workspace, but it’s better than nothing!
Set boundaries with your co-workers
Obviously, if you’re in an open space, that means there is no door to close. This is a problem for introverts because noises can be distracting and busy environments can be draining and overstimulating.
And also because you can’t shut out co-workers who may try to talk to you and inadvertently pull on your energy.
Since you can’t shut a door, setting boundaries with your co-workers is important to preserve your energy. Come up with a system so your co-workers know you’re working and you shouldn’t be disturbed.
Maybe you have a sign near your desk, or if your space is small, make an announcement. And once you put that system into affect, stick to it.
Don’t let yourself be pulled into an unnecessary, unimportant conversation. If a co-worker tries, remind them that you’re in the middle of something, but you’ll be sure to find them when you’re done.
Leave the space for lunch and breaks
Since open work spaces can be draining for introverts, it’s important to leave them when you have the chance. It might be easy to tell yourself you’ll get the most out of your break if you read in the corner instead of wasting time going to and from another location.
You may also think that you have too much to do to leave for lunch, and your best option is to take lunch at your desk.
But in most cases, leaving and spending time outside of that workspace is worth the sacrifice–as long as you find someplace quiet to eat or take your break.
The time outside of the open office space will give you time to recharge, which will make you more productive when you go back to work.
This is something else that really helped me a lot. In the beginning, I used to take my breaks in a corner of the library, and my lunch in the busy cafeteria.
Once I started leaving my workspace in favor of someplace quiet, I found I had more energy when I came back from my break, which made my day go a lot better.
Make use of any available quieter common spaces
Most open workspaces have some kind of rooms that can be used when needed. This may be a conference room, break room, or something similar.
These spaces may be used from time to time, or maybe even regularly, but they typically aren’t used all the time. If it’s possible, see if you can duck into one of these spaces for an hour or so each day.
This will give you a little quiet time and hopefully help you get some extra energy.
Create quiet time for yourself before and after work
Because your workplace will pray on your introverted personality, it’s typically helpful to cushion your day with quiet recharge time before and after work.
Consider getting up earlier so you can have a quiet, peaceful morning instead of rushing around to get ready and get to work on time.
And don’t make commitments after work on a regular basis. This will help you recover from the excess energy you burn off being around other people consistently throughout the day.
Consider getting a new job
If all else fails, it might be time to consider looking for employment elsewhere. Figure out what you love about the job you have and look for those qualities in a job with a quieter environment.
This may not be ideal, but at the end of the day, it’s up to you to make sure your needs are met. If your job is falling short in this area, it may be a sign that it’s not the best job or place for you.
Looking for more in-depth tips on how to manage your introvert work life?
If you want to dig a little deeper into this topic, check out the Introvert Life Guide!
This guide was designed to help you build the introvert life of your dreams. And it’s full of plenty of tips and tricks to help you manage your introvert life at work.
It will also help you embrace your introverted nature and build a life to help you thrive!
For more introvert life tips, check out the other introvert posts!
Sound off: What’s helped you get through your open office environment? What’s been a struggle for you? Tell us about it in the comments!
I work in an open huge space. As back office, not on the phone, between colleagues on the phone the whole day. This was changed a few months ago. I have a very busy job and everyday I am completely drained and in bed at 7 PM. I spoke with my managers about this and they do not understand this at all. Huge open spaces are great for the work environment etc. I may not work different hours, can not switch place. My personal thoughts about this… as in Europe they are changing more and more to enormous office areas introverts will getting a harder time the coming years…
And what is worse, the look at months I have been told (and read also a few times on the internet) that I should go in therapy to get rid of my introverness and become extroverted. Back to the 1970s where introverness was seen as a mental disease.
Ugh I hate that people have told you to stop being an introvert! That’s not how this works! I truly believe open offices are a form of introvert hell and it’s so frustrating when people don’t understand that not everyone can perform well in that environment. I hope there are at least a couple of things on this list that can make your day a little more bearable. ❤️
Thank you. At my main job, I do not think it’ll change. Although I am thinking about giving a workshop about the differences between introversion & extraversion. Most people still think we are shy, awkward (well… in my case they are probably right ;), anti-social etc.
In my spare time I “work” (well, it is paid, so I can consider it as work… although it doesn’t feel like work) as a tour guide on bicycles in the city I live. Outside, telling the group things about the area, history etc. I really love.
I have done this a few years at the Canary Islands and it was the best job ever.
The workshop sounds like a great idea! If you decide to do it, you’ll have to come back and let us know if it helps. 🙂 And it’s great that you have a second job you enjoy!