When do you most need “quiet time” at work—time and space free from distractions and interruptions?
It’s safe to say that for most knowledge workers, it’s when they’re on deadline and under pressure. A major project milestone is approaching or a proposal is due. The timeline is tight. People need time to pause, sort through problems, organize their thoughts, concentrate and crank out their best work.
It’s also safe to say that for many people, the best environment for focused work like this isn’t a desk in the middle of a bustling office—even if they wear headphones as a way of saying, “Privacy, please.”
Workers looking to carve out some alone time in a day filled with meetings and conversations—even if it’s just five minutes to unwind and do nothing—need a solo space: a private enclave or hidden refuge away from the action.
“The harder people work collaboratively, the more important it is to also have time alone—to be free from distractions,” said Donna Flynn, vice president of Steelcase’s WorkSpace Futures research group.
“People also need privacy to decompress and recharge.”