It seems to be hard to pinpoint when work ends and relaxation begins lately. From one minute to the next you might be in your so-called boardroom, at the “gym,” or in a makeshift content production studio. Helping with geometry homework one moment, and striving to find a little inner peace the next. Taking control of your soundscape will help you stay on-task while adding some important self-care to your routine. Here are five work from home audio solutions to do exactly that.
Work From Home Headphones and Accessories
We’ve all been distracted by low-level background noises (or perhaps not-so-low level if you have children). What you might not know is that continued exposure to environmental noise is more than just a nuisance. Most people don’t adapt well to background noises—in fact, the impact of background noises can worsen over time. Scientific American recently asked Mark A. W. Andrews, Director, and Professor of Physiology at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine how background noise can affect one’s well-being. In his response, he cited a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health which notes that ambient noises can affect our health by “increasing general stress levels and aggravating stress-related conditions such as high blood pressure, coronary disease, peptic ulcers, and migraine headaches.” Less than ideal sounding isn’t it? Here are two types of headphones to choose from which will minimize or cancel out background sounds.
5.0 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
These earmuff-style Bluetooth headphones use what’s known as passive noise cancellation to reduce ambient noises. Simply put, this means that the special foam on the earcups does most of the sound blocking. This contrasts with active noise cancellation technology; which actively works to negate noise by playing an opposing sound wave. But we’ll get to those in a minute. This pair of headphones happen to fit a microSD card directly in one of the earpieces, so you can store and play your music right from the headset. Of course, you can also connect to all your favorite Bluetooth devices. Gamers love the lack of connection lag. If your goal is less about reducing noise, and more to do with clear calls, the HD Voice and Call quality makes this headset a great multi-purpose solution. Charging time is about 1.5 hours, with a listening time of 10 hours. No need to stress if you’re running low on power at a key moment. Just connect these headphones to the charging cable and carry on.
ANC Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones
As mentioned earlier, ANC or active noise-canceling doesn’t block sound, so much as it neutralizes it. There’s more to it than that if you care to take a deep dive into the physics aspect. Most people report that active noise-canceling is most effective when it comes to dealing with continuous, low-frequency noises—like the sound of a motor running, and less so in dynamic situations—like when people are speaking loudly. This pair will take slightly longer to charge (2 hours) than the previous set, with the same estimated listening time (10 hours). You can also continue using them while they’re charging. These are the most compact option of the two pairs since you can fold them in half for storage.
Work From Home Computer Microphone
This plug-and-play computer microphone is easy to use and delivers better vocal quality than your typical built-in computer mic. If wearing a traditional headset with a mic feels bothersome, or you just want a clean, minimalist appearance on your next video call, this is an affordable microphone that will get your voice across crystal clear. Whether you’re about to record your first-ever podcast, record music, or give an important sales presentation; this microphone will give you both stability and great voice pickup. It also helps to remove speech plosives—puffs of air—which are created when we say certain consonant sounds. But what does that mean? Practically speaking, your listener won’t need to ask whether you just said “skill”, “spill”, or “still,” because they heard you correctly the first time.
A Metal Microphone Clip helps anchor a wireless lapel mic to your shirt collar or blazer. Though it’s called a lapel mic, you can go ahead and test different ways to position it. Generally, you want to aim for the centre of the body. Try placing it below your chin, at a distance equal to the length of your hand. If you don’t use a wireless mic, this clip will also work great with the built-in mic in your wired earbuds. Either way, the clip helps you place your mic in the ideal position and keep it there to minimize static feedback for your listeners. It’s a straightforward solution for improving audio quality during any meeting or conversation, especially if you’re moving about a lot.
A Case for Your Live/Work Space
Our final work from home solution helps clear clutter. Use this Electronic Accessories Case for all your audio gear (or any kind of electronic accessories) and you’ll create a nice physical and mental boundary between work and home life. After all, what you don’t see, you don’t think about. So, when your workday comes to a close, simply stash all your gadgets overnight, and start fresh in the morning. You’ll spend less time detangling cords, or searching for missing bits of gear. This zippered case comes in six colours, and it’s handy for stashing headphones, microphones, USB drives, and more.
Would you like to know more about home office solutions? Check out The Perfect Audio Accessories for Your Home Office, or come visit our online shop to get your new work from home gear delivered directly to your door.
