Setting up a low-stimulation workspace: 7 simple ideas
Less noise, fewer pop-ups, less clutter in your line of sight. Seven practical ideas for a workspace that doesn't constantly compete for your attention.
Focus doesn’t just depend on you, but also on your surroundings. Every sound, every notification and every object in your line of sight competes for your attention. If you perceive stimuli more intensely – as many neurodivergent people do – you’ll notice this all the more.
The good news: you don’t have to rebuild everything. Small adjustments already make a difference. Here are seven ideas. Take whatever suits you.
1. Give your ears something steady
Silence is rarely truly silent. Especially in offices or flats with thin walls, individual sounds stand out: a laugh, a door, a phone. A steady carpet of sound makes those peaks less noticeable. That can be instrumental music without vocals, an ambient layer like rain or brown noise, or both together.
2. Headphones as a signal
Headphones don’t just block out noise. They also show the people around you that you’re focusing – and remind you that it’s work time now. Closed-back models or noise cancelling block more. If that feels too isolating, open-back headphones are a good alternative.
3. Batch your notifications
Every pop-up pulls you out for a moment – and finding your way back often takes longer than the interruption itself. Mute notifications on your computer and phone during focus time, for example with a focus mode. You can check emails and messages together at set times.
4. Clear your line of sight
What you see keeps your brain busy too. A calm background, as few open tabs as possible and a desk with only what you need for the current task all help. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s enough if your eyes don’t keep getting caught.
5. Light that doesn’t get in the way
Flickering fluorescent tubes, harsh light or strong contrasts can be tiring. If possible: daylight from the side, a warm desk lamp and a screen whose brightness matches your surroundings. A dark colour scheme on screen can be more comfortable when it’s dim around you.
6. A fixed starting point
The transition into work is often the hardest part. A small ritual that’s always the same can help: put down a glass of water, headphones on, press play. The fewer decisions involved, the better. That’s why Locoustic has only one button.
7. Plan breaks before you need them
Stimuli add up over the day. Short breaks with as little input as possible – looking out of the window, taking a few steps, headphones off for a moment – help you avoid stopping only when nothing works any more. An alarm or timer can remind you.
Start small
You don’t have to try all seven at once. Pick one that feels easy and try it for a week. A workspace doesn’t have to be perfect. It just shouldn’t cost you so much.