conducive environments

I have written something before about environmental issues in a conducive environment, but yesterday I saw a TED talk which really aided in re-enforcing the point. I have linked it here, so that you can enjoy the subject of how noise affects us. It was a scientific exploration of how the mind reacts to the sounds around us. What was discussed was the fact that we have adapted to try to accept these noises around us, and especially in our working environment. One point actually popped out, during the speech, that made an impact and actually supports the points made in my previous post on 'environmental blocks'. That point was the notion that our working environment should be suited to our needs. Not simply for personal gratification reasons, but also for productivity reasons. Recently it has become a trend to have open plan office working environments. This tends to negate the whole process of a god work practice. Mainly due to the noise output affecting our ability to work. Research has shown that productivity falls by upto 60% in open working environments and joint offices. That is a very large percentage to have against a good working output. On a creative level this is also a bad affecter, due to the simple fact that the brain has to process all noise entering the ears; regardless of ambient or direct input. This then would take away from being able to concentrate on other more productive tasks. In the TED talk they do mention that multi-conversational sound patterns is one of the most annoying processes the brain has to deal with. Mainly as it needs a great deal of concentration in order to try to decipher what is being said, even if relevant or even directed at us.

One of the other points that was made also in the speech, which I am a strong advocate in, is the notion of our connection to our prehistoric past, and the origins of our evolution. The scientists have made a pattern chart that can guide in understanding the formulae needed to develop a good working environment. What they mention in the discussion is the way that music variations can aid or hinder our creative process. The surprising thing that was mentioned (or not so surprising) was that bird song was the most conducive of sounds that could be played in a working environment. Why? Well, as I tend to believe, that all things are related, the basic structure of our inner being has related concerns to primeval instincts. We simply associate bird song with security. This is due to the premise that birds sing in the wind when the environment is clear. Therefore our state of mind, and our body relaxes. what we tend to do as humans is to take away from the massive importance that our inner body and its affects on our hormones plays in our actual conscious state of mind. Also, our daily practice of work sometimes forces us to have to work in conditions that are not ideal. Maybe people talking in a room, the wrong type of music, ambient sounds of workers drilling outside. What can be gained from this is the understanding that to be creative needs to have a great deal of self-control over how we deal with these process.

A simple solution, as described in the TED talk, is to plug in some ear pieces and play bird song to isolate yourself from all existing ambient sounds. This also can be done for whale song, which also has a pacifying quality. A strange point was also made, which I also know to be true of Kodo drumming, which is that the sound of lapping water on a sea short helps. This is because the typical pattern is at 12 cycles a minute, which is the same tempo as a calmed beating heart in the human body. Again, this indicates a way that our subconscious actually finds a way to relate to our environmental existence. As conscious beings we tend to want to take control of our environment rather than let the environment dictate us. However, knowing that the only sensory input form that cannot be turned off (as to say) has such an amazing impact in the way our actual state of mind works, is its daily routine.

So, literally, the next time you sit down to try and be creative, or lie down to conjure an idea of thought, take a moment to the sounds around you and the way that they can actually affect the outcome. One of the practices I do sometimes when I want to listen to some music, is to play opera. Why opera? well, firstly I love opera. But secondly I have also come to understand that because I don't understand the words that are being said then the sounds of voices don't distract me from needing to analyze the words being spoken. This may seem odd, but it seems to work for me. And I guess this is what is key. Trying to find something that works for each and everyone of us, in order to develop a piece of space that can environmentally be more conducive to a better work practice. Also, the thing that needs to be considered is the actions of not affecting anyone else in their daily chores. Being considerate with noise levels, always tends to be overlooked. Mobile ringtones, music blaring and chatting next a working body is all very ignorant and disruptive ways to affect a creative mind. The unfortunate conclusion is, as the process of understanding the TED talk tends to indicate, is that the best working environment would be a completely empty, sound proof room, with bird song playing. This could also indicate the notion of an asylum cell, so maybe the point of creativity is knowing our own madness in the need to be creative.