Productivity Hack: Drown out Distracting Noise… with Noise

Noisy workspace got you down? Whether it's a chatty colleague, a droning lawnmower just outside your window, or the chaos of an open office floorplan, nothing torpedos your concentration like loud distractions.

So what's an effective way to drown out all that noise? Surprisingly, it's more noise--white noise, to be exact. Like the static you hear between radio stations, white noise can boost your concentration, soothe frayed nerves, and act as a kind of aural fence that keeps unwanted sounds at bay.

Luckily, white noise generators are pretty easy to come by. There are countless sites and mobile apps you can start using today to get your productivity back on track. Here are a few:

• SimplyNoise.com - This is my go-to noise generator, mostly because it's, yes, simple. Just go to the site, choose from white noise, pink noise, or brown noise (each affects the brain differently), adjust your volume and get to work!

• Coffitivity - If you can't quite buy in to listening to static, this website offers users' ears the gentle ambient sounds of a coffee shop. Coffitivity is also available as a mobile app for Android and iPhone in case you run into distractions on the go.

• Naturespace - Cafe sounds not soothing enough? Let the sweet sounds of Mother Nature lull you into a state of deep concentration. This app is available for Android, iOS, and Windows devices.

• Chroma Doze - If you want a little more control over how your noise sounds, try this Android-only mobile app. It lets you tweak the settings to get the perfect sound for you (or "erode eardrums and frighten small children"). Many people use white and pink noise for a better night's sleep. This app will work with other sleep timer apps to ensure you wake up on time, refreshed.

So there you have it--good noise that defeats distracting noise. Is this something you would try in the name of productivity enhancement? If not, what are your favorite methods for encouraging concentration?