With 90% of companies planning their grand return to the office by 2024, we're on the brink of a significant shift in the workplace. While the news is music to the ears of some, it might strike a different chord for others. So, let's unpack the positives, navigate through the negatives, and explore how to make things a little easier during this transitional period.
A return to the office brings back the vibe of in-person collaboration and a semblance of the good old 'normalcy.' đşđ For many, it means a structured routine, defined work-life boundaries, more opportunities to socialize, and the pleasant hum of colleagues nearby.
However, not everyone is throwing confetti at the news. đ° For many returning to the office, the transition from the privacy of home to the open office can be jarring.Â
With the commute back in the picture, rigid schedules, and the shift from home's comfort, there's a lot to navigate for folks whoâve grown accustomed to the work-from-home lifestyle.
The transition might be rocky for those who have found comfort and control in their cozy home office corners. The impending loss of these personalized sanctuaries can cause stress and anxiety for even the most loyal team member, potentially affecting their mental health and overall well-being. đ
The office can be a powerhouse of productivity but navigating through its distractions is an art. While open offices foster collaboration, they can be challenging for focus-intensive tasks or private phone calls, making productivity a careful balancing act. đ¤š
While some might experience a boost in productivity due to increased in-person collaboration and access to office resources, others may face challenges.
Regardless of your sentiments towards the return to the office, Zenbooth is here to help ease the transition for everyone. đŚ¸
For starters, letâs talk about phone calls and Zoom calls. đđť In an open office, taking a call can feel like youâve suddenly been put on stage and have to perform for everyone within earshot. Additionally, background noise or nearby conversations can make it hard for to hear and think clearly, much less handle sensitive calls that require a lot of mental energy.Â
With a Zenbooth, this challenge becomes a thing of the past. Each Zenbooth is designed to be a sound-isolating space, allowing you to take important calls without the fear of interruption or eavesdropping. Our privacy solutions ensure your conversations remain confidential and clear, allowing you to show up in the conversation with confidence and focused presence.
Then there are those instances when you need to dive deep into focus work without distractions. đ¤Ťđ§ With its visual and auditory interruptions, an open work environment can make this a Herculean task. Enter Zenbooth - your personal focus nook. In a Zenbooth, you're shielded from the bustling activity of the open office, providing you with a quiet, private space to concentrate and complete tasks that require your undivided attention.
Zenbooths are also perfect for collaborative meetings or sensitive one-on-ones. đ¤ Rather than searching for an available conference room or settling for a corner in a noisy cafeteria, you can easily step into a dedicated space that makes meetings comfortableâand therefore enjoyableâfor everyone. Zenbooths offer a quiet haven in the middle of an open floorplan to better foster open communication, making it perfect for discussions that need a bit of discretion.
And letâs not forget social battery breaks. đŽâđ¨đ If you're simply looking for a brief escape to recharge, Zenbooth offers a refuge from the constant hum of the open office. Unlike a communal break room, you actually can have a real moment to yourself. đ§ Itâs a spot where you can enjoy a bit of solitude, collect your thoughts, take some deep cleansing breaths, and return to your desk feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the next task.Â
To support teams during this transition period, Zenbooth is currently offering $200 off any booth with the code HAPPYTEAM through October 31st. Weâre here to help your team make the return to office smooth, thoughtful, and considerate of everyone's needs and concerns.Â
With a Zenbooth in your space, you can enjoy the benefits of both worlds - the collaborative energy of the open office and the focused tranquility of private space when you need it. Hereâs to making the return to office comfortable and supportive for all! đ
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]]>In a world that's buzzing with distractions, libraries stand strong as peaceful islands of knowledge and discovery. And now, we're about to reveal the game-changing upgrade that's going to rock your library world â Zenbooth privacy booths! Get ready to embark on a journey of focus, collaboration, and comfort like never before.
Meet the Zenbooth Solo â a sanctuary for those moments when readers want to dive deep into their books, get lost in their studies, take a private call, or simply escape the chaos. With its sound-dampening walls and cozy design, the Solo is your go-to spot for some quality 'me-time' in the heart of the library. So go ahead, grab your book, laptop, or notepad, and let the Solo take you to your happy place.
But wait, privacy isnât just for individuals! The Zenbooth Duo creates the perfect two-person harmony of focus and collaboration. Whether you're brainstorming with a friend, hashing out a project, or practicing a presentation, the Duo is here to make teamwork a breeze. Its compact yet spacious design creates the perfect environment for any dynamic duo to accomplish all things group work. So why not tag your partner-in-crime and level up your study sessions?
Need even more space for larger groups? Presenting the Zenbooth Quad â where collaboration becomes a full-on team adventure! Bring your study squad, your book group, or your think tank and huddle up for some serious brainpower. With its spacious interior and comfortable design, the Quad is your ultimate destination for group brilliance. So gather your crew and get ready to do amazing things together.
So, you're itching to add some Zenbooth magic to your library? Here's your insider guide to setting up the ultimate cozy nook:
From individual focus work to group brainstorming, Zenbooth privacy booths have transformed libraries into hubs of focused learning and collaboration. So, whether you're seeking peace and quiet, teaming up for a project, or rallying your squad for a study marathon, Zenbooth has you covered. It's time to make learning meet comfort and turn up the coziness, quiet, and productivity at your library. Get ready to experience library magic like never before! đ¤Ťđ
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]]>Plants are like natural air purifiers. They gobble up carbon dioxide and give us oxygen, making indoor air better. Certain plants, like snake plants and peace lilies, even tackle nasty toxins like formaldehyde and benzene. So, bye-bye indoor air pollution, hello fresh and breathable atmosphere!
Plants aren't just pretty decorations. They're mental health heroes too. Studies say being around greenery lowers stress, anxiety, and that "I need a nap" feeling. The chill vibes of plants bring tranquility and calm, and caring for plants can be an instant mood booster!
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Plants are productivity powerhouses! Studies show that offices with plants boost focus and problem-solving skills. Nature vibes = creative vibes. Greenery makes us feel connected to the great outdoors, sparking innovative thoughts and killer ideas.
Open offices can be noisy and chaotic. Enter plants: the ultimate sound absorbers. Those leaves and stems? They're like natural noise-canceling headphones. Less noise means more headspace for concentrated work. Your brain will thank you.
Let's be real, offices can be a bit "meh" in the looks department. Plants to the rescue! They add a touch of nature's beauty, turning your workspace into an Insta-worthy haven. Whether it's desk plants or big leafy installations, your office will look on point.
Transform your workspace with Gromeos, self-watering wall-mounted planters designed to make it easy to bring the soothing presence of live plants indoors with minimal maintenance. These beautiful planters not only elevate the aesthetic appeal of your workspace but also contribute to a more positive and productive atmosphere.Â
With Gromeos, you can effortlessly integrate live plants into your office decor, enjoying the benefits of improved air quality and enhanced well-being without worrying that youâre going to end up with a plant graveyard. 𪌠Create your very own office oasis with Gromeos and Zenbooth, where nature and productivity can coexist in perfect harmony. đâ¨
Sprinkling plants in the office is like giving your workspace a wellness upgrade. From cleaner air and better mental health to supercharged creativity and style points, plants have got it all. So go ahead, embrace your inner plant parent, and watch your office transform into a lush productivity paradise! đąđ˘Â
]]>Our team often gets asked for help in planning where Zenbooths should be placed. This article is intended to give you and/or your interior designer some pointers to help you figure out how many phone booths you need, and where to place them. Â
However, the first two big guiding principles are: âthink flexibleâ and âless is moreâ.
Our offices have been rearranged many times and often we end up tweaking what âlooks good on paperâ. All Zenbooth products can be moved after they have been built with furniture sliders. Â
Weâd recommend brainstorming some layout variations with your team and then trying the preferred layout. You can even make large cardboard cutouts or tape areas based on the dimensions and see how the phone booths feel in certain configurations.Â
Creating new space in the office is exciting, but it doesnât take much to be impactful. Incorporating just a few more private spaces may completely change your team's working behavior. If itâs your first time getting office phone booths, you may want to start with âstarterâ combinations for a small office like 2x Solos and 1x Quad (or a Duo, depending on space).
Before phone booths and video conference calls were so popular, a rule of thumb was to have one conference room for every ten employees. But now with hybrid work, the increased desire for private workspaces, and a lot more video calls, that equation shifts.Â
Start by figuring out what the privacy needs are for different team members. You may find that with certain roles like recruiting or sales, it is advantageous to have a private space available for more than half the day theyâre in the office. This may in some cases mean one Zenbooth for every two salespeople. It sounds like a lot, but itâs far better for the business and the salesperson than them hesitating to make a phone call.
Whereas, four five-person design teams (20 people) who are spending 2-3 hrs in meetings a day may be able to comfortably share three Solos, one Duo, and two Quads. Theyâll need less if they have some days working remotely. As you can see, there are no fixed rules, but a lot can be learned to predict your team's needs by looking at their calendars.Â
Here are a few ways you can place Zenbooths:
Different jurisdictions have requirements and guidance on the placement of phone booths. A local general contractor or interior designer may be best placed to give advice if you need this. However, at a national level, some things to be mindful of are:
Interior designers are often best placed to review plans. However, our team is happy to take a look and give general feedback after youâve brainstormed some plans with your team.Â
Send us a copy of your plan to review or set up a meeting with our Customer Success Team, and we'd love to help you find the layout that will work best for your team's privacy needs.Â
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]]>Zenbooth started with a simple mission: to help create quiet spaces in every place.Â
Privacy and quiet is important for everyone and has a major impact on well-being, especially in high-traffic places like offices and schools. Thatâs why we thought, why do phone booths and privacy pods have to be so expensive and inaccessible? Budget shouldnât be a limiting factor for businesses, schools, libraries, or any other organization to create a private and peaceful environment.
We believe that privacy can be practical, eco-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing without costing a fortune. Our goal is to provide you with an optimal environment for your business, so you can focus on what matters mostâyour clients, employees, products, and services.Â
Thatâs why Zenbooth is committed to designing privacy solutions that can fit any budget, including phone booths and private meeting rooms. đż
Because affordability has been such an important value for us since the beginning, we now find ourselves in a position where we are by far the most affordable office privacy pod on the market. But how do we offer such versatile privacy solutions without compromising on quality?
At the end of the day, everyone deserves privacy, and thatâs why Zenbooth will continue to offer a full suite of the most affordable privacy solutions on the market.Â
We strive to deliver quality phone booths and private rooms that focus on your needs and your budget. Schedule a virtual demo or request a custom quote to discover which Zenbooth is the best fit for you and your team. We canât wait to work with you to help create a more peaceful environment in your space! đ]]>The idea behind Green Friday is simple: instead of spending money on things that will only make the climate crisis worse, why not go green instead? Green Friday is a global movement to encourage consumers to think about their environmental impact and the impact of consumerism on the planet. đ
This pro-planet alternative is growing in popularity with big brands and small businesses alike, giving people opportunities to make more eco-friendly choices in what they buy.
It's a day to give back to the planet by investing in sustainable products, services, and charities.
Zenboothâs commitment to environmental sustainability is built into all aspects of our business: from how we source materials and design products, to our low-waste initiatives and striving for a carbon-neutral footprint.
Weâre excited to announce that weâll be participating in Green Friday this year by offering some amazing deals to help new customers choose more sustainable options! đĽł
New customers will receive:
This discount expires midnight Nov 25, 2022 (Green Friday), so contact our Customer Success Team today!Â
Climate change is a major threat to the planet. The world needs more clean energy, more trees, and less pollution in order to survive.Â
Whether you're purchasing items as an individual or company, you can make a big difference towards reducing humanity's carbon footprint on the planet by simply choosing more eco-friendly, sustainable companies and products. A small choice can have a big impact. đ
Sustainable companies produce goods made from natural and/or recycled materials, find ways to replenish the resources used, and strive to reduce waste and CO2Â emissions. This means less waste going into landfills or oceansâ reducing pollution and making a better planet for all of us! đż
If you care about the environment and want to ensure a clean future for humanity, it's time to invest in embracing sustainability.
Zenbooth is excited to be a small part of a big revolution in the way businesses think about their role in the world, and we hope you join us this year in making the world a greener place!
]]>[Updated April 2023]
At Zenbooth, we hold a strong commitment to sustainability and making eco-conscious decisions at every step of a privacy booth's life cycle. âťď¸ From the materials we use to construct our booths to our shipping methods, we prioritize the health of the planet. đ
In 2018, our design team developed a special eco-friendly shipping pallet, which we are proud to say has helped to drastically reduce our carbon footprint over the years. đż By stacking our booths on a-frame pallet, we can utilize more vertical space without taking up more square footage in the truck.Â
We're also able to fit two Zenbooth Solos onto one pallet when ordered together, utilizing more vertical space without taking up any more square footage in the truck.
This bundling of shipments and maximizing of truck space helps reduce the number of trucks needed to transport our products, as well as the amount of fuel consumed and greenhouse gas emissions produced during transportation. đ  The more items that can be shipped together in a single trip, the more it reduces the number of trucks needed to transport those packages, as well as the amount of packaging materials required for each shipment. đŚ
To further reduce shipping waste, we developed a minimal packaging solution that supports our a-frame pallet. We also avoid unnecessary processing and corner cutting during production, allowing our booths to retain their natural shape. In fact, we even repurpose leftover materials to make the pallets that we use to ship our booths. đą
Our goal is to make our privacy booths eco-friendly from start to finish as part of our responsibility to the environment. We believe that when the planet wins, we all win, and that's why we're dedicated to promoting sustainability in everything we do. Every step counts towards a more sustainable future. đ
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]]>Zenbooth has become the common-sense choice for schools because of our unique focus on ADA compliance and accessibility features, affordability, ease of installation, and the natural aesthetic that seamlessly fits anywhere.Â
Weâre excited (not to mention impressed) to see how schools and universities around the nation are taking advantage of Zenbooths in really wonderful ways. 𤊠Here are three use cases that every school should know:
Mental health is becoming more and more of a priority for schools, and finding solutions for students is more important than ever. Thankfully educators are stepping up to the challenge, and Zenbooths are the perfect fit for their needs. đ¤
Mary from Perry Elementary School in Lima, Ohio says:
âWe are using our Zenbooths to extend our mental health services in our school district. We use one of the booths for our new school social worker (who is employed by the school district) and the other booth is used for outside mental health service providers to meet with their âclientsâ (aka, students who see therapists from outside agencies who then bill families' insurance for services). It's honestly a great system.
As the awareness of students' mental health needs increases, so does the need for responsive services. The Zenbooths have allowed our district to increase our support for students and their families.â
We all know the importance of being able to close the door and have real privacy for important focus work and sensitive conversations, but unfortunately thatâs easier said than done. Even with limited space and budget, the Zenbooth Quad offers a great pop-up office solution for educators and administrative staff.Â
With an interior space of 7â by 7â and a full skylight roof to make the space feel bright and airy, the Quad makes it easy to create a private office anywhere without repurposing classrooms or going through lengthy (and costly) construction approvals. These multi-functional spaces create space and privacy wherever itâs needed. đ¤¸ââď¸
Group projects, meetings in the library, study groups, video conferencing, and more â it seems like thereâs just never enough space for students to have focused, productive meetings.Â
With three different sizes, Zenbooths offer a variety of options for students to let their creativity flow without distraction (and without disturbing those around them đ).Â
This is why Ryan from BayTech Charter School in Oakland, California highlights Zenbooth not only for its use as a private office but also as a meeting room for students:
âWe are making them [Zenbooths] as offices, small meeting rooms for staff members and students, and we also use them with our special education program where a counselor and student can come together to meet, or the speech and language pathologist can meet their student and have privacy to work on their goals.â
Education is a constantly growing field, and as the needs of students continue to expand, weâre excited to be a small part of creating solutions that allow students and educators to thrive and achieve their goals. đŤ
Interested in using privacy pods for your school or library, but not quite sure where to start? Weâre here to help! Schedule a free consultation with our Customer Success Team today to discuss your goals, plan your layout, and find the best setup to meet your studentsâ needs.Â
We're excited to proudly announce the new and improved Zenbooth Quad. Beautiful, sustainable, soundproof, accessible, and spacious, this is our most flexible meeting pod ever. đ¤¸
The Zenbooth Quad is a 7'x7' space that can be anything you need it to be: your own private office, an open space for brainstorming sessions between 4+ people, a breakout room for students in a class, or a quiet retreat to take a moment for yourself. The Quad packs industry-leading features into the most versatile and highest value meeting pod on the market.Â
This is our roomiest interior within the Zenbooth product line to accommodate a larger space for an individual to spread out and set up a private basecamp or small groups looking to do collaborative work. It has a 3.5" thick acoustic wall construction that contains sound insulation made of sustainable materials to ensure meetings remain quiet and private while also being good to the earth. đł
The Zenbooth Quad also comes fitted with twin high-powered ventilation fans powered by an occupancy sensor to keep you cool and leave the booth smelling fresh. đ Our self-closing aluminum door comes with an accessible handle, tempered glass, magnetic latching system, and low 1/2" door threshold for improved accessibility. âżď¸
Lightweight materials make moving the booth around your office painless, and easy assembly and disassembly make it easy to get your booth up fast or pack it down to take with you during office moves. đ Like all of our models here at Zenbooth, the Quad is USA made in Berkeley, California and comes complete with a 3-year warranty. đşđ¸
We're so confident you're going to love the Zenbooth Quad that we're offering free Quad assembly through the end of February (a savings of almost $1,500 per build!) đ¤Â .  Contact us to schedule a virtual demo or request a quote, and bring the peace-inducing power of the Zenbooth Quad to your office space.
Yet self-affirmations do work. Thereâs MRI evidence that neural pathways associated with personal values are strengthened when we practice them. Studies also show they make you happier by activating the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which responds to pleasurable experiences.Â
But thereâs a certain group of people that donât need a scientific study to prove affirmations work â actors. Anyone who has ever performed on stage â or actually, anyone who has ever played pretend with any semblance of commitment, knows that language is powerful.Â
To say something out loud â to commit to it â is like casting a spell. When youâre a kid, you simply need to say âIâm the king of the castle,â or âthat tree is a boat taking us across the Atlanticâ to believe it. Thatâs why the voice is such a powerful thing. As renowned acting coach Kristin Linklater said, âto free the voice is to free the person.â
To speak something out loud and give into it is a very powerful experience. Itâs the same with movement. We can trick our brains and hearts into believing things by saying them out loud and moving our bodies.
]]>Yet self-affirmations do work. Thereâs MRI evidence that neural pathways associated with personal values are strengthened when we practice them. Studies also show they make you happier by activating the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which responds to pleasurable experiences.Â
But thereâs a certain group of people that donât need a scientific study to prove affirmations work â actors. Anyone who has ever performed on stage â or actually, anyone who has ever played pretend with any semblance of commitment, knows that language is powerful.Â
To say something out loud â to commit to it â is like casting a spell. When youâre a kid, you simply need to say âIâm the king of the castle,â or âthat tree is a boat taking us across the Atlanticâ to believe it. Thatâs why the voice is such a powerful thing. As renowned acting coach Kristin Linklater said, âto free the voice is to free the person.â
To speak something out loud and give into it is a very powerful experience. Itâs the same with movement. We can trick our brains and hearts into believing things by saying them out loud and moving our bodies.
Michael Chekhov, another acting coach, describes this when explaining the âPsychological Gestureâ in his book in the early 20th century, before he had the science to prove it.Â
âIs there such a key to our will power? Yes, and we find it in the movement. You can easily prove it to yourself by trying to make a strong, well-shaped but simple gesture. Repeat it several times and you will see that after a while your will power grows stronger and stronger under the influence of such a gesture.Â
Further, you will discover that the kind of movement you make will give your will power a certain direction or inclination; that is, it will awaken and animate in you a definite desire, want or wish. So we may say that the strength of the movement stirs our will power in general; the kind of movement awakens in us a definite corresponding desire, and the quality of the same movement conjures up our feelings.âÂ
Itâs pretty simple really. The same principle applies to smiling when youâre sad, or doing some jumping jacks to feel more energized. And itâs a beautiful part of being human. You can work on yourself from the outside in and the inside out at the same time.Â
But that doesnât mean finding the right affirmation is easy. Thereâs plenty of advice out there on how to find the right ones for you â but artist Julia Cameron put it best:Â
âIt takes a certain amount of daring to try working with affirmations. We must be willing to stand firm in the face of our subconsciousâ bluster and bile. Listen to the ugly objections as they roar to the surface of your mind.
"Ignore their vicious content, and again insist on the positive. Affirmations work like an ejector razor blade. We insert the positive as we eject the negative. As we write our affirmations, our negative thoughts lose the power to tyrannize our thinking and our behavior.âÂ
There will be negative thoughts â thatâs part of the work. But before you start your next work day, why not take a deep breath, plant your feet on the ground, hold your arms above your head in victory and say one of the below:
So often, we disparage our own work â this one is simple, but effective because it forces you to stop and praise yourself â which isnât easy. Saying this shows yourself compassion, and remembering to do it a few times a day will give you a dopamine boost and increase productivity.Â
Itâs not a coincidence that two of the most highly-recommended affirmations for work fight imposter syndrome, which so many of us face. Repeating this affirmation four to five times at the beginning of the day or before starting a difficult task increases confidence.Â
I do not need to rely on othersâ judgment for acceptance.
A great one for battling the constant need for approval. Saying this before sending that frantic slack message or email making sure someone isnât mad at you or your work is a great way to recenter yourself.Â
Weâre all searching for meaning here. And although it can be hard to recognize sometimes, many of our jobs are in the service of others. Finding yours and making sure you believe it will benefit your work and your health, as science proves that having a purpose keeps your brain healthy & functioning.Â
This is a very popular affirmation, since handling conflict brings up anxiety, fear, and pain for so many of us. But as Carl Jung says âConflict exists strictly as an opportunity to raise our consciousness.â
Affirming we handle problems with a word like expertise generates confidence and calm, which is exactly what most of us strive for in stressful situations.Â
When youâre open to new opportunities, they come to you. Itâs not just a woo-woo statement about the universe rewarding you when youâre ready, thereâs science behind it. Perspective is everything. Keeping your mind open is a genuine practice that fights confirmation bias. Use this affirmation to do just that.Â
Although this one might be hard to say at first because we all, of course, experience failure, repeating this one over and over will show you a new side of the phrase. What does it mean to be successful at something? Using this affirmation will broaden your mind and show you that success is a multi-faceted, ongoing process.Â
This is one of the most common (and popular) affirmations for both work and personal life. A reminder that we are, at all times, exactly where we need to be, because we are there.Â
More powerful than the idea that âeverything happens for a reason,â this simple phrase reminds us that we are, therefore we belong. This affirmation also brings you into the present moment.Â
Another affirmation for confidence and preparedness. This is a valuable tool to use on a particularly trying day! Youâre essentially giving yourself a pep talk â which studies show vastly improve performance.Â
At the end of the day, we all really want to be valued. Itâs another way of giving us a sense of meaning. Repeating this affirmation reminds us that we are already enough. We already add value â thereâs no gap between who we are now and that valuable person we strive to be. This shift in focus can be monumental in transforming our mood.Â
As Robert Wright discusses in his book Why Buddhism is True, âThere is no one self, no conscious CEO, that runs the show; rather, there seem to be a series of selves that take turns running the showâand, in a sense, seizing control of the show.Â
If the way they seize control of the show is through feelings, it stands to reason that one way to change the show is to change the role feelings play in everyday life. Iâm not aware of a better way to do that than mindfulness meditation.âÂ
Affirmations are a mindful meditation practice and a way to change which CEO is running your brain for that minute, hour, or day. Shift from a negative point of view to a positive, and see how much better your work becomes.Â
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The Zenbooth Quad is perfect for doing breakout sessions or team building activities to increase morale. Whatâs great about our simple design is that you can accessorize booths any way you desire â add a whiteboard, a rug or posters on the wall.Â
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The Zenbooth Quad is perfect for doing breakout sessions or team building activities to increase morale. Whatâs great about our simple design is that you can accessorize booths any way you desire â add a whiteboard, a rug or posters on the wall.Â
In school, there was a constant need for separate, private spaces â teacher assistants taking students aside for extra help on a subject, someone who was absent needing to take a test they missed â and they were often sentenced to a corner of the room or outside in the hall. AÂ meeting pod is the perfect alternative.Â
Zenbooth already boasts a healthy list of customers who are voice-over artists who have converted their booths for recording purposes, as you can see in the photo below.
So many actors (including myself) often run to their closets for their voice-over auditions, because having a small, non-echo-y space will improve the quality of any recording.Â
But customizing an office pod with padding and a great microphone truly gives you top-notch sound, not only for auditions, but for booked jobs, since most of them are remote now. An investment in a Zenbooth is a sure-fire way to book that audiobook gig youâve been wanting.
Quick anecdote: Growing up, I played the trumpet in the schoolâs band and orchestra. I started in fifth grade â and it took me a few years to become first chair of the trumpet section. Plus, I lived in an apartment complex. The positive of this was I could bring my trumpet to the window and sing a fanfare â and all the neighborhood kids would know to come outside and play.Â
The downside was I annoyed a ton of adults. And I canât blame them. Having a neighbor play an instrument badly (especially a brass instrument) when you are trying to work is maddening.Â
At school, we had sound-proof practice rooms to go into. But at home⌠unless your parent was a musician or you had a basement (which, in California, no one does), then what are you supposed to do? A Zenbooth is a perfect solution for the musician and surrounding parties â and just as good of an investment as private lessons.Â
I know you can unroll your yoga mat anywhere, but for me, the distractions around my room can make my practice unfocused or unorganized. I see something I forgot to take care of earlier, and the instant-gratification part of my brain wants to fix it now.Â
Go into a Zenbooth to take a half-hour to really unwind. Stretch, work out, or take 20 minutes to empty your mind and see whatâs lying underneath the stillness.Â
An office phone booth can be a space for play. As an artist or creative person, you have to make time for these tasks in the same way you do your day job.Â
âArt is not about thinking something up. It is about the oppositeâgetting something down.â
â Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
Instead of using a booth for work, make your Zenbooth a sacred space for the act of creation. Only write, paint, color, record, hold creative meetings inside of it.Â
Hey, buy The Artistâs Way and do your morning pages in there! Your brain will start to think of that space as a treehouse, a spaceship, a fort you create with your bedsheets. It will become synonymous with play, creativity and joy.
Check out a Zenbooth now and make it the place you want to be.Â
]]>But those positives have a dark side. Barriers between work and home crumble. You have to become your own manager. Roommates can be even more distracting than co-workers â and even if you have a Zenbooth office pod to help you focus, thereâs a lot of mental hurdles to overcome.Â
So what can we do? Below is some advice from remote employees across industries.Â
But those positives have a dark side. Barriers between work and home crumble. You have to become your own manager. Roommates can be even more distracting than co-workers â and even if you have a Zenbooth office pod to help you focus, thereâs a lot of mental hurdles to overcome.Â
So what can we do? Below is some advice from remote employees across industries.Â
Taking a walk in the morning increases blood flow to the brain, which will help your cognition throughout the day. Movement also lubricates your muscles and joints, which will fight all that tightness that comes from sitting at a computer for too long. Plus, walks remind you that youâre a person in the world â not a mind in front of a virtual metaverse.Â
If you canât take a walk, take a second at a window with a cup of tea or coffee â staring out at the world helps your eyes refocus, which will keep them from over-tiring as you look at a screen for hours. Try to do this throughout the day.Â
Not only is it key to have a designated workspace at home (check our Zenbooth Quad for this), itâs also important for it to be up to par so youâre not battling chronic neck, back, and shoulder pain. This is something I neglected for a long time and am now paying for â by upgrading my desk, keyboard & workspace in general! Because believe me, nothing stops creativity, flow & productivity like physical tension.Â
First, find the right desk for you. Whether you prefer a standing desk, a lap desk, an L-shaped desk â pick one and donât skimp on the make, model & design. Use accessories to make sure you have all your outlets accessible. This is the beginning of a beautiful and emotional friendship, so choose wisely and follow your gut.Â
People can rave about standing desks all they want, but if itâs not right for you, donât go with it! I love standing for administrative work, but I cannot write a single creative sentence while standing â I donât know why. So the only standing desks Iâll consider are those with flexible height options.Â
(Reminder: the Zenbooth Solo & Duo come with adjustable desk options!!)
If you work from a laptop, get a separate keyboard. And while youâre at it, also a mouse and ring-light for zoom calls. But seriously, an additional keyboard is a game-changer. And a split, ergonomic keyboard is life-changing. There are a lot of great, affordable options out there and your wrists (and mind) will thank you in the long run.Â
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Anyone who has ever had to memorize an entire play knows that it does not happen in one sitting. You have to give your brain a break, then return to it again and again, refreshed. Same thing with all work, but especially at home.Â
At work, breaks are built in â everyone is on lunch, or you have a few minutes before your next meeting, or you have a 5 minute conversation with your coworker or office mate. But at home⌠you have to do it yourself. The amount of times Iâve attempted to go straight into writing from being in a meeting, or vice versa and have it blow up in my face is⌠countless at this point.Â
In your head, you think youâre saving time â youâre trying to rush to get it all done, but really, you overwhelm yourself and youâre less efficient.Â
A Johns Hopkins study supports this: âThe sweet spot seems to be either in a dedicated amount of time to studyâin this case, forty minutesâor by taking a number of small breaks but returning to the information relatively quickly. Discovering what method works best might require personal experimentation, but one thing seems certain from all this research: the balance between complete focus and giving your brain space might be nuanced, but extremes in either direction do not appear helpful.â
So taking the equivalent of a cat nap for your brain will help you throughout the day. Mark these breaks on your calendar â or, once a meeting or task is finished: force yourself to stand up, do some stretches, or take a walk around the block.Â
Thereâs nothing like waking up in the morning, checking your calendar, and realizing⌠you donât have any meetings on the books! You can actually get things done! For me, knowing thereâs no deadline or stopping point is the most freeing feeling for innovation and creativity.Â
If I know I can get into flow⌠I do. If I only have an hour before a meeting, I get a little bump of cortisol and stress out about finishing in time, which puts pressure on the work in a way thatâs not conducive to actually doing the work. Our brains are sneaky little children sometimes who we have to corral and sweet talk in order to get things done.Â
âThe human brain is a machine designed by natural selection to respond in pretty reflexive fashion to the sensory input impinging on it. It is designed, in a certain sense, to be controlled by that input. And a key cog in the machinery of control is the feelings that arise in response to the input. If you interact with those feelings via tanhaâvia the natural, reflexive thirst for the pleasant feelings and the natural, reflexive aversion to the unpleasant feelingsâyou will continue to be controlled by the world around you. But if you observe those feelings mindfully rather than just reacting to them, you can in some measure escape the control; the causes that ordinarily shape your behavior can be defied, and you can get closer to the unconditioned.â
â Robert Wright, Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment
So, if possible, schedule days of the week where you have meetings, and block off days where you donât. This will allow you to properly prepare for those public-facing days â i.e. put on make-up, set up nice lighting, or just get emotionally prepared for social time â and also the days where you can wear sweatpants, a sweatshirt and get cranking on writing and administrative tasks.Â
This makes organizing your calendar and scheduling much simpler in general â if people want to book time with you, they can only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, etc. This gives you a sense of ownership over your time and schedule, which is empowering, too.Â
When you finish your work day, change something in your space, no matter how small. Light a candle. Open the door. Take out your instrument. This is the equivalent of turning the âOpenâ sign to âClosedâ at the end of the day. Rituals matter. When you signal, physically, to your brain that you are done with work in some kind of way, youâre going to be more inclined to hold to it. And youâre not literally leaving an office, youâve got to find a different way to âleaveâ the office.Â
Maybe you have a little sign or pin on a bulletin board. Maybe you turn the light off at your desk. Whatever it is, find something and stick to it. Boundaries around work are so important â not just for your coworkers, your boss, your partner⌠but for yourself. Otherwise, youâll find yourself checking slack at 2am about a project youâre stressed about.Â
Promise yourself that once you hit that button/light/door⌠youâre done with work for the day. In a few weeks, you will feel a difference.Â
Weâre living in strange times full of worker autonomy. And even though mental health has never been more mainstream to discuss, and thereâs an abundance of available resources out there, no one can help us if we donât set ourselves up for success by taking care of our bodies, spirits and brains in a holistic way.Â
âDo you already know that your existence--who and how you are--is in and of itself a contribution to the people and place around you? Not after or because you do some particular thing, but simply the miracle of your life. And that the people around you, and the place(s), have contributions as well? Do you understand that your quality of life and your survival are tied to how authentic and generous the connections are between you and the people and place you live with and in?â
â Adrienne Maree Brown, Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds
Feed yourself. Creating a haven for work thatâs separate from play and home is a way of nourishing yourself, and reminding yourself youâre more than just one facet of your life.Â
So now that youâve finished reading this article, why not take a walk around the block to smell the roses?Â
]]>So if weâre staying at home, why would we need a private office pod like those offered by Zenbooth?Â
Letâs explore.Â
So if weâre staying at home, why would we need a private office pod like those offered by Zenbooth?Â
Letâs explore.Â
When it comes to productivity, location is everything. According to a British study, âemployees who have control over the design and layout of their workspace are not only happier and healthier -- they're also up to 32% more productive.â
Taking control of our workspace gives us a sense of meaning and purpose â which is why itâs so important to have a delegated space to get into âwork mode.âÂ
A quiet office pod provides the exact type of area you need. Plus theyâre portable and easy to assemble or disassemble if you change your mind about its location. The booths also plug into nearby outlets so you can charge your phone or computer while you work.
Having a main place for getting things done â even if itâs a few feet away from where you sleep, eat, hang out, etc, is enough. Our brains are coy, and building good habits is the best way to give ourselves freedom to create what we want to create.Â
It also allows us to go to a place where physical items from home are not in our line of sight, which can pull our attention into the past or future immediately. I.e. if you see a piece of clothing you forgot to put away, or a magazine or a book, your thought process can be quickly hijacked in the same way it is when your phone dings with an unhelpful notification.Â
And while a routine can make our emotional or personal lives boring, studies consistently show that having a routine (working in the same place, at the same time each day) improves stress levels and productivity.Â
Work tasks inevitably change every day â so if your space does, too â it can soon get overwhelming. The National Geographic states that repetition is associated with importance in our brains.
Plus, when the habit becomes automatic, we then give our brains space to focus on the actual work at hand. âEliminating the need to constantly make decisions about a particular set of activities reduces cognitive load,â clinical neurologist Daryaneh Badaly says.
Working from bed can create sleep issues â physically and emotionally. Working from bed is bad for your back and posture â your spine is curved and shoulders hunched â which will affect your productivity.Â
Plus, when your bed becomes a work space, youâre training your brain to be thinking about work there in the morning and evenings, which means bed no longer equals rest. Itâll be harder to shut off at the end of the day, which can lead to insomnia.Â
Working in the dining room or kitchen does the same thing â what is known as a communal space is now being used for work. So instead of allowing yourself time to sit, eat, drink water, rest â youâre bringing all of the mental baggage and stress from your day job into the room.Â
The neutral backgrounds of a Zenbooth â plus the ability to customize it as you see fit is also appealing and helpful in our current climate, where most of what weâre seeing of each other is a little box on zoom.Â
I speak from experience when I say it can be extremely jarring when people comment on my changing zoom background (depending on where Iâm able to work in my home.) When I change locations, the lighting shifts, too, and occasionally, due to my roommates, I find myself in an area with a less than ideal background â or with someone coming in and out.Â
This is distracting not only for my colleagues but for my mental health/anxiety about how Iâm being perceived. Â
Designing your own space gives you autonomy, which empowers you to do your best work. Dr. Craig Knight from the University of Execter did a survey of 2,000 workers that assessed levels of control over their offices/workspace.Â
Results âconsistently showed that the more control people had over their office spaces, the happier and more motivated they were in their jobs. They felt physically more comfortable at work, identified more with their employers, and felt more positive about their jobs in general.âÂ
Not to mention, with a privacy booth like the Zenbooth Solo, Duo, or Quad⌠I have complete control over my environment for meetings, which reduces stress and allows me to use my brain power on the meeting at hand rather than worrying about professionalism or appearance.Â
And this mightâve sounded silly a year ago, but after 18 months of hybrid working environments and zoom meetings, we all understand now how easy it is to become focused on what the lighting is doing, how your background or hair looks, or what people are wondering about your significant other as they sneak behind you to grab an extra cup of coffee!Â
To learn more about our Zenbooths get in touch with us here.ÂWeâve got some tried and true techniques below. And if your office is looking for a more modern, permanent solution to defeating office noise, weâve released two updated office pod and meeting pod buyerâs guides.Â
Noise pollution seriously affects all of us in a variety of ways. Not only is it distracting, but particularly loud, unexpected noises drive our stress levels through the roof. Noise cancelling headphones mitigate distracting sounds from the office (be it construction, unwanted communication, someone elseâs music etc.) and help us focus on the task at hand.Â
There are PNC (passive noise-canceling) headphones that seal your ears from distracting external sounds, ANC (active noise-canceling) headphones that create a white-noise effect that matches the surrounding sounds -- or you can get headphones that do a mixture of both.Â
]]>Weâve got some tried and true techniques below. And if your office is looking for a more modern, permanent solution to defeating office noise, weâve released two updated office pod and meeting pod buyerâs guides.Â
Noise pollution seriously affects all of us in a variety of ways. Not only is it distracting, but particularly loud, unexpected noises drive our stress levels through the roof. Noise cancelling headphones mitigate distracting sounds from the office (be it construction, unwanted communication, someone elseâs music etc.) and help us focus on the task at hand.Â
There are PNC (passive noise-canceling) headphones that seal your ears from distracting external sounds, ANC (active noise-canceling) headphones that create a white-noise effect that matches the surrounding sounds -- or you can get headphones that do a mixture of both.Â
Plus, if music or a podcast helps you concentrate, the sound quality of these headphones are incredible and they keep your ears safe -- you wonât need to risk turning up the volume at your favorite part of the song. The final positive of these big, often colorful headphones is that when you wear them, people are less likely to bother you.Â
You know the drill. Breathe in for four counts, hold for four counts, slowly exhale through your mouth for four counts. As my favorite podcast discusses -- as much as it feels too simple to be true, breathing really is key. Box breathing is a tool implemented by yogis and Navy Seals alike.Â
It lowers cortisol, brings attention back to the body, grounding us. If noise becomes too overwhelming in your office -- do some box breathing for 3 minutes, or five to ten rounds. The noise around you may still be distracting, but I guarantee your perspective on it will have shifted.Â
Konstantin Stanislavky (a âfatherâ of modern acting) had a great method that works for people no matter what stage youâre on. It's called the three circles of attention. The first circle is the one just around you -- your radius. The second circle is around you and your scene partner, or your more immediate surroundings, and the third is as wide as the room.Â
When you practice these circles, imagine a real barrier or border between you and your inner circle. Visualize it. Focus on listening to the sounds only within that circle -- i.e. your breath, your pen on paper, etc. Put everything else out of focus.Â
Practice shifting between each circle, widening your attention as you move from one to the next. Then, return to the smallest circle. Youâll be surprised how much of what distracts you can be mitigated by mental training.Â
As much as this sounds like naptime in kindergarten, thereâs a reason this works. Whether itâs your office mates or roommates, deciding on a time (say between 1-4pm) where you all work quietly is an amazing way to get things done.Â
Creating a structured block of quiet time creates a bond between you and your coworkers. It builds trust and accountability -- like having a jogging buddy, but for quiet time. Not only will you have a peaceful place to work, youâll also be motivated to use that allotted time for the work that needs the most attention.Â
Believe it or not, plants are an amazing noise reducer. Not only are green walls super aesthetically pleasing, theyâre also a great, natural acoustic insulator. Installing a green wall can take work, so in the meantime, populating your work area with plants can help with noise reduction. Especially big plants with thick leaves with a lot of surface area.
When sound bounces off flexible matter like plants, it vibrates and fractures, as opposed to when sound hits a hard wall -- it reflects right off it and bounces back into the room.
After you purchase your noise canceling headphones, youâll have to figure out what you want to listen to. If itâs not a white noise machine -- the kind of music we listen to (and the volume at which we listen) can help or hinder productivity.Â
According to this article, a cognitive behavioral therapist worked with Spotify and discovered that music with 50-80 beats per minute enhanced focus and creativity. They also found that classical, cinematic and nature music also helped.Â
To me, this translates to "music with no lyrics thatâs very emotive." It keeps you engaged emotionally, which then influences creativity -- without the distractions of lyrics that could hijack your brain.Â
Could this noise in the office be addressed in a direct and respectful manner? If not, there are still other ways to communicate that you need quiet besides aggressively putting your new noise-canceling headphones on.Â
Add your status to your slack or turn notifications off. Let the office know youâre working on one task and they shouldnât expect to hear from you for a few hours. If itâs okay to step outside, take a call on a walk, or go to a coffee shop down the street, communicate to your team that youâll be offline.Â
As Susan Cain says in her book Quiet: The Power of INtroverts in a World that Canât Stop Talking: âIf you like to do things in a slow and steady way, don't let others make you feel as if you have to race. If you enjoy depth, don't force yourself to seek breadth. If you prefer single-tasking to multi-tasking, stick to your guns. Being relatively unmoved by rewards gives you the incalculable power to go your own way.â
And last but certainly not least, an office phone booth. I reached out to a dozen colleagues, friends and family members while I was making this list, and every single person responded that finding a private room in their office was their preferred method of dealing with noise and distractions.Â
Whether it was an office phone booth or booking a conference room -- having a room, with a door to close, was pivotal.Â
Our Zenbooths dampen outside noise, keep you cool with ventilation, and keep the vibes positive with a skylight, appealing wood design, and glass doors.
We can put on headphones, update our slack statuses, or leave the office for a walk, but nothing is as efficient and simple as walking into a Zenbooth. To learn more about our products, get in touch with us here.Â
]]>They were also more flexible, more human. Open floor-planned co-working spaces were perfect for freelancers in the ever-growing gig economy.Â
They were also more flexible, more human. Open floor-planned co-working spaces were perfect for freelancers in the ever-growing gig economy.Â
But, much like the largest co-working company, the notion that open floor workspaces are more productive and accessible is false.Â
When we make ourselves available 24/7, the less mentally available we actually become. A Harvard study showed that after two Fortune 500 companies switched to open-office configurations, face to face interactions went down by 70%.Â
If weâre always accessible, weâre constantly trying to find uninterrupted time to focus on a task at hand. Itâs like having your door always unlocked. It puts you in a constant state of hyper-awareness that someone could come in at any moment. And getting into a true flow-state is impossible when weâre being bombarded by unwanted questions, other peopleâs conversations, and outside noises.Â
In an episode of his popular podcast âThe Ezra Klein Showâ, the journalist gets into this with author Cal Newport (âDeep Workâ and âA World Without Emailâ):Â
âWeâre losing our ability to concentrate. These remarkable vistas of information that have been opened to us have also been polluted by endless distraction. And so, weâre not benefiting from any of this the way we thought we would. Instead of getting more done in less time, we feel like we have less time than ever and are never getting enough done.âÂ
Newport takes things a step further. He discusses how our current way of working -- which he calls the âhyperactive hive mindâ -- doesnât jive with how the human brain processes information. Most of us literally cannot multitask, even when we think we are. Our brains donât allow us.Â
Instead, weâre just rapidly switching between objectives, which stops us from ever fully immersing ourselves into any given task.Â
Constant interruptions via slack, email, and all of our various messaging systems cut off cognition at the neck, because it literally takes up mental capacity. Quickly switching between tasks uses up oxygenated glucose in the brain, which makes us tired faster.Â
Thereâs a reason you might be drinking more caffeine as you bounce between inbox, slack and other messaging interfaces. Â
In addition to inefficiency, this way of working makes us sad, anxious and overwhelmed. Weâre social creatures, hard-wired to want to please and communicate with our tribes and teams. When we canât keep up with them, it depresses us. We get a hit of dopamine every time someone says our name or sends us a message.Â
Itâs why the sirenâs call of an unopened email or slack DM is so powerful. But once we open the message, the excitement dissipates, and we are left more depleted and distracted than before.Â
Thatâs why âasynchronous communicationâ has become such a hot term in the last few years. It means less meetings, more to-do lists. As discussed here, asynchronous communication means checking in with your team via voice memo rather than phone call. In this state, an instant response is not only unnecessary, but not expected.Â
The studies continue to show employee stress levels and job satisfaction are correlated to office design. Coworkers continue to say that sharing space with multiple people, particularly fellow employees they do not know well or feel comfortable with, makes work harder to do.Â
This makes sense. Thereâs a reason we like to meet up with good friends to do work. Thereâs nothing more intimate than sharing space with someone while you each focus on individual tasks. If youâre in sync, you help each other concentrate. But if youâre not⌠you donât. Maybe thatâs why so many marriages ended during the pandemic.Â
The point is, sharing space with people is hard. And this isnât news. According to the NYTimes, roughly 70% of US businesses have open floor plans, and construction is expensive. Design, renovation, plumbing, HVAC -- the costs add up quickly.Â
Thatâs why the office pod is the perfect solution. There has been a swift and exponential rise in its popularity the last few years. Sales are up all around as we return to the world -- not just for offices, but for airports and other large gathering spaces.Â
Booths are the natural answer to our desperate need for focus and privacy. And employees are using them in droves. A top priority for Millennials is flexibility. The hybrid work model or office has become ever popular, especially now, and for good reason. Sitting in one spot for an entire day of work is not conducive to positive mental health or workflow.Â
We want to switch it up. Again, thereâs a reason open floor plans were popular for so long -- sometimes sitting with someone while you work is the best place to be. Until itâs not. Having the office pod as an option for 15 minutes, an hour, or 3 hours is a truly special asset.Â
Also, thereâs an egalitarianism to the pod -- which is another important factor for Millennials, reflected in the cultures of most start-ups and new businesses. For so long, true privacy was saved for those at the top -- managers and bosses with doors and corner offices â but phone-style booths are generally placed in common areas so anyone in need of a quiet moment can take it.Â
Not all models of office pods are the same. With Zenbooth, our sound-dampening technology ensures that your calls inside the booth are private, in addition to keeping you protected from external noise. The walls are made with mineral wool to provide acoustic insulation.
If youâre worried about sharing a small space with other people in the new era, most booths on the market come with ventilation in place. All of our Zenbooths have high-powered motion-activated ventilation systems which cycle new air into the pod every minute. Another reason to use it: you can escape your deskmate with that runny nose.Â
Most booths are also easy to clean. Our wood and glass surfaces, with few nooks and crannies, can be disinfected quickly and thoroughly.Â
When I first looked at a booth, my main worry was about feeling âboxed inâ or claustrophobic. But claustrophobia kicks in as a reaction to stimulus -- too many people talking in a confined space, anxiety about whether you can escape -- and booths have neither of these issues.Â
The sound-dampening walls give you a sense of calm, our skylight and glass door combat that âboxed inâ feeling, and you can, of course, leave whenever you want. Which may be never.Â
In terms of accessibility, Zenboothsâ adjustable desk feature makes sure short and tall employees feel comfortable inside the booths at all times. And every model of the booths feature wheelchair ramps, making them truly accessible to all employees.Â
What open offices lack in productivity, they make up for in design. Thereâs a reason Frank Lloyd Wright is credited as bringing them onto the scene.
An open workspace is warm, inviting and gives way for innovative, unique elements. Pods compliment these spaces well, and Zenbooth offers white and wood-finishes for our products â clean, simple design options that fit seamlessly into any officeâs feng shui.Â
The customization options continue with multiple booth designs: the classic Solo, the Duo, and the Quad, which cater to different office needs. As the name describes, the Solo is perfect for getting work done alone. Take a phone call, write an article â I wish I was using one now -- close yourself off to the world and check those items off your to-do list.Â
The Duo is built for collaboration. Like the solo, it comes equipped with a desk (either standard or adjustable) and has enough space for two people to comfortably work together or asynchronously. Step in for a private one-on-one meeting, a small break-out session, or use it to spread out and get more work done on your own.Â
And if you want even more flexibility and customization, check out the Quad. Our newest model is a 7x7 space designed to be anything you want it to be. The Quad is a favorite among teachers â schools purchase them for classrooms because theyâre the perfect size to teach lessons to groups of 4-6 students.Â
Host meetings without feeling cramped, do yoga and meditate, or simply build your own dream office. The Quad truly is a versatile space for you to be you.Â
There are plenty of booths on the market, but Zenbooth is the most economic option without sacrificing style and functionality. None of our competitors offer free shipping, simple assembly, and features like skylight or an adjustable desk with USA manufacturing at our price points.Â
Plus, we use recyclable and locally-sourced materials and ship directly from our factory in Berkeley, California.Â
For example, the prices of our competitors PoppinPod and Pillar start at over 5K before add-ons. Skylights are not an option, nor do they offer ramp-access into their booths. PoppinPod also requires installation assistance, and Pillarâs shipping costs are based on location.Â
Room, though a little closer to our price at $4395, costs $450 per booth to ship, and does not offer adjustable desk or dimmable lighting.Â
Talkboxâs pods start at $3995, but recommend professional assembly ($550 or higher). And their âDoubleâ, which is comparable to our Duo, starts at $11,995 while ours start at $8,995.Â
Zenbooths are designed for access and flexibility. From our prices and payment options, to our product and assembly, weâve designed our pipeline to work with you and your business.Â
The future of work is about taking back our autonomy and creativity. Itâs about flow-state and asynchronous communication. Multi-tasking is the past. Return to doing things intentionally, one thing at a time. Normalize the quiet. Your brain, blood pressure, and heart will thank you in the long run.Â
Our mission at Zenbooth is ease. To create a quiet space for every case. Contact us anytime at our website -- someone on our team will be ready to assist you with any lingering questions about our product, and help bring a Zenbooth to your business at the exact right moment.
]]>Office design in 2022Â may take a variety of shapes but the â90s style workplace where each person has a desk and cubicle is still popular â mainly because itâs a cost-effective design that allows more workers to be squeezed into limited square footage.
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]]>The standard workspace we imagine as place with cubicles or open space has gone through several iterations over the last few decades.
Office design in 2022Â may take a variety of shapes but the â90s style workplace where each person has a desk and cubicle is still popular â mainly because itâs a cost-effective design that allows more workers to be squeezed into limited square footage.
Open offices have their advantages â they encourage collaboration and communication between employees and, as already mentioned, theyâre an economical form of office planning.
However, these perks are offset by many other negatives. Open spaces can be noisy and visually distracting. They can damage productivity and even employee health. Traditional open offices assume that everyone works in the same way and they donât make any provisions for different working styles and different personalities.
So whatâs the solution if you want the advantages of an open plan office without the downsides?Â
How can you provide a quiet and distraction-free space for employees who need focus and concentration, while still encouraging collaboration, communication, and creativity between individuals?
Office managers and designers have come to realize that thereâs no one solution that meets every individualâs needs exactly.
Rather than choosing between standard open offices and private or smaller group offices, newer office design takes a balanced approach with elements that can be moved and adjusted to mold to the needs of a continually changing workforce.
Flexible open offices, or agile workspaces as theyâre often known, combine the best of both worlds with a combination of open, collaborative workspaces and distraction-free quiet zones.
With this style of office design, you identify groups of employees or teams that share similar tasks and work styles. You can then design around these groups, creating functional spaces for them to work together.
As well as open work areas, designated quiet zones are provided for tasks that need focus and concentration, or any other activities that need a quiet environment such as making phone calls.
And perhaps most importantly, the entire space is designed to be flexible so it can be changed and adapted for different purposes.
Employees arenât expected to sit in a cubicle or at a designated desk for eight hours a day. Instead, they are allowed freedom and flexibility to move between different work zones as it suits their mood or task.
For example, projects that require working closely with other colleagues may be suited to an âopen officeâ zone with workstations and seating designed for easy communication and collaboration.
Informal meeting areas can provide a creative working environment thatâs ideal for group brainstorming, as well as breaks and socializing. Remember â itâs important to provide comfortable places for these ânon-workâ activities too. A rested employee will be more productive and an inviting social space can also promote teamwork and better relationships between employees.
To provide for the need for privacy, concentration, and quiet, closed off smaller work areas must also be provided. They can be used by individuals or small groups as and when itâs needed.
Many businesses have realized the benefits of providing small work booths or âphone podsâ for this purpose. These pods easily be added moved around to provide the ultimate flexible working solution.
The Zenbooth is a fully enclosed booth designed for one to six people (depending on the model). It is equipped with comfortable desk space, electrical and USB outlets, and motion activated ventilation fans.
Made from insulated maple wood, aluminum, safety glass, and plexiglass, these phone pods provide a bright and spacious but private space to work that removes the visual and auditory distractions that come with an open office.
Zenbooth provides a silent and private workspace for making phone calls, private meetings and conversations, and focused solo or small team work that needs a distraction-free environment.
Zenbooths are completely freestanding, they can easily be incorporated into your existing office space without the need for expensive and disruptive remodeling.
An open office containing a Zenbooth provides a number of benefits over traditional open and closed office design:
Zenbooth is available in three different models to suit the needs of your office. The flexibility and modular nature of Zenbooth mean you can start with just one office phone pod and add additional ones later as your workspace or number of employees grow.
Comfort Booth
The Comfort Booth is the smallest Zenbooth phone pod and is designed for one person to focus and make phone calls in a quiet and private environment. Its features include:
Executive Booth
Companies that need quiet space for two employees to work together, or to conduct interviews or performance reviews, may want to consider the Executive Booth. This extra-large room provides a quiet area for up to two employees working closely, or a more spacious working area for an individual. Features include:
Executive Room
If you need a meeting room for small groups or for more than two employees to work together, the Zenbooth Executive Room is the ideal solution.
This freestanding privacy room offers the flexibility to use your own work surfaces and seating. The interior measures 84 x 84 inches, providing enough space for up to four people to work comfortably alongside each other.
Features include:
You have many options when it comes to office design, so if youâre planning an interior remodel for the coming year, why should you opt for our office phone booths?
Consider some of the following benefits they offer to your employees and your business.
1. Increase employee focus and productivity
Itâs well known that the distractions and noisy atmosphere of a standard open office environment can hamper productivity.
70% of offices today have no partitions or only low partitions, causing disruptions in the workplace. Between 25% and 30% of workers in these offices say that the level of noise is too high, and cite other issues such as lack of privacy, air quality, temperature, and level of light as sources of dissatisfaction.
By providing Zenbooth phone pods as a quiet place to focus on work, you can improve the productivity of your employees and increase worker satisfaction as a whole.
2. Improve privacy and professionalism of phone calls
Itâs difficult to come across as a professional organization when youâre talking to a client and they can overhear your colleagueâs conversations in background.
An open plan environment can also cause difficulties when you need to have a conversation that involves sensitive information.
It's vital to provide a quiet place for employees to make phone calls. Zenbooths are a purpose-built solution to meet this need.
3. Reduce staff turnover and improve employee health
Open office environments are not only damaging for productivity, but they can also have a detrimental effect on the mental and physical health of employees.
Some individuals actually find working in an open office environment to be quite stressful, particularly for introverts who have nowhere to escape from constant interactions.
Viruses also spread quickly in an open plan office. Workers in open offices take a staggering 62% more sick days than employees in closed offices.
Happy and healthy workers are not only more productive but are also less likely to leave your company in search of better working conditions.
One easy way to give your employees more control over their environment is to provide phone pods for a quiet and relaxing space to work when they need to be free of distractions, or simply want a break from interacting with other colleagues.
Providing a comfortable, flexible space with designated zones for quiet and private work will not only improve the productivity and satisfaction of your current employees, but can also attract new talent (millennials in particular), as a modern agile workspace can be a big selling point when it comes to hiring new team members.Â
If youâre looking to improve the work environment for your employees in 2022 and want to learn more about how Zenbooth can help you to create an ideal office, get in touch with us today.
]]>Although there's a chance those sick days come as a result of spreading germs, you could argue that stress is a factor as it weakens peopleâs immune systems.
The fact that 25-30 percent of open office employees express dissatisfaction with workplace noise levels is a revealing statistic in and of itself. Trying to meet quarterly targets in a hectic environment can feel chaotic, and where there is chaos, stress often follows.
So before we talk about meeting pods, letâs dispel the supposed âbenefitsâ of open offices.
Accessibility of workers is actually an issue. Employees are free to talk about work projects at will, but this discussion can disturb nearby employees. Sometimes, personal chatter, encouraged by the freedom of the open office, adds to the noise.Â
Factor in the sounds of office machinery, elevators, and ringing phones, and employees are bombarded with what is essentially noise pollution all day.
There are visual disturbances, too, as people passing by move in and out of workersâ peripheral vision.Â
For employees working on high-focus tasks, this constant noise results in a lack of productivity. In fact, a study at Berlinâs Humboldt University demonstrated that it can take up to 23 minutes for employees to regain concentration after being disturbed.Â
A recent study found that many workers were willing to give up their bonuses, vacation days, windows, and coffee machines if it meant having more privacy throughout the week. Needless to say, addressing this issue in your own workplace could have a strong effect on your office environment.
The Zenbooth Duo is our medium size product, comfortably accommodating two workers at a time. You can order the Duo with either a maple or white exterior, though you'll find both have a subtle and cohesive look within your office.
Alongside its calming color scheme, the booth's rectangular shape allows it to easily fit in your office, without taking up any unnecessary space.Â
The Duo is a great spot in which to relax, brainstorm, chat, and collaborate. This booth is outfitted with dimmable lights, a high-quality ventilation system, and soundproof walls to ensure that workers can focus on what they're doing once inside.
With plenty of electrical outlets, a skylight ceiling, and an adjustable desk, the Duo is sure to be a hit among your staff.
Price: $8,995
The Zenbooth Quad is larger than the Duo, but still compactly designed to fit into your workplace as easily as possible. Comfortably fitting 4-6 people at a time, the Quad is an ideal space for everything from a strategizing area to a recharge room.
There are many features that go into making this room so adaptable to the needs of you and your employees.Â
Its 3.5 inch thick walls with echo absorption panels keep loud noises and distractions out. Pair that with the twin high-powered ventilation system, the 6 electrical outlets, and the roomy interior, and you can tell this product was made to host even the most urgent group projects.
Price: $14,995
Zenbooth has greatly alleviated the pressure of having consistently impacted conference rooms in our office. We evaluated a few different options in our search, and it became clear very quickly that Zenbooth was going to come out on top, in terms of customer service, pricing, and availability. The booths were delivered on time and the team went the extra mile to assure their installation was a success.Â
 Dani S. - Verified Buyer
These booths are AMAZING. We purchased an Executive Room and three comfort booths. Â
Heather M. - Verified Buyer
I have some people who will literally spend all day in them. We essentially created mini conference rooms by buying the booths, saving us a ton of time, money, and effort, and best of all: everyone absolutely loves them, and we can move them or take them with us wherever we go.
Ben, Director of Operations at Addepar - Verified Buyer
"The booths are great, everyone here loves them and it's really helped open up our conference rooms for larger meetings. Overall, everything is great and if we end up needing more private booths like this, I will absolutely re-order from Zenbooth."
Will, Operations Manager at Gizmodo - Verified BuyerÂ
The modular design of both the Zenbooth Duo and Quad allows them to be easily put together and taken apart. This results in safe shipping and an easy and affordable installation process for your office.
For many employers, having an entirely new room built may be completely unrealistic. Construction can be expensive, time-consuming, and distracting. When you go with a Zenbooth, you don't need to wait on permission from potential building owners or dish out tens of thousands of dollars to get the space you need.
Below weâve listed 8 specific benefits and / or use cases of adding a meeting pod to your office.
One of the most convenient features of this meeting room alternative is its portability and ease of assembly.Â
Standard, traditional conference rooms are built to be static. They're permanence doesn't allow for any adaptation to office layout changes. Employees who need to use the conference room most might find its location not very accessible. Or, any number of changes to personnel and team needs might not be conducive to the meeting rooms original location.
Meeting pods from Zenbooth can not only move to any location in your office, but if you ever decide to leave your current work space and lease somewhere else, you can simply disassemble your pod and bring it with you.
This portability and ease of assembly leads to our second benefit, which has the potential to save thousands of dollars.Â
Imagine if, as your company grows in size, you have to add meeting or conference rooms to additional floors. Hiring contractors to build these out, and the downtime that would occur within your office, could not only hurt your profitability but it would likely slow down productivity as well.
The noise alone would increase stress levels, as studies have shown.Â
Meeting pods are a terrific alternative to building a new conference room entirely, and as you'll see from our next section, they come with additional features that standard conference rooms don't have.Â
USB ports are probably a tough item to find at older, more established companies. If you're like us, you usually need to bring your laptop or your own adapter with you to a conference room.
That's a pain that no one needs to deal with, and it can easily delay an important meeting or presentation.
Our office privacy pods have USB ports built into the walls so that no matter what device you want to use, you can charge your battery as long as you need to.
Not all conference rooms are designed specifically to block noise, but our soundproof booths do exactly that.Â
Our booths are insulated with R-13 insulation, which is ground up blue denim.
Additionally, the R-13 we use offers exceptional thermal and sound control.
Each meeting pod we produce has its own sophisticated ventilation system. This feature is strong and fast enough to replenish all the air inside the booth in just two minutes.
We use two exhaust ventilation fans that are exceptionally quiet so team members don't have to worry about talking at a loud volume, or hearing soft-spoken colleagues and clients.Â
The ventilation system we use also saves tons of energy. Unlike most systems, which need to either be manually turned on or off, our vents are motion sensor activated. As soon as a person enters the meeting pod, they turn on, and when enough time has passed and there is no movement detected, the system turns off.Â
The vents (and room itself) are powered by a standard 110V (three pronged) outlet. We supply a 15 foot extension cord with each pod.
Countless companies have called to inquire about our meeting pods, mentioning specifically that they're either fed up with one person hogging the only conference room, or that they just need a conference room big enough for one to two people.
That's where the size of our meeting booths makes so much sense.Â
Adding one to your office, even if it's for a single coworker, can be just the amount of privacy needed to increase production.Â
The compact size of each Zenbooth means you don't have to tie up limited, valuable office space with the construction of a regular sized conference room.Â
Conference rooms can look and feel majorly unnecessary when a small team of 3-4 workers are sitting at a table for 12.Â
Going with a meeting pod allows you to conserve precious real estate and use it for other beneficial features your staff needs. This additional space could be used for a bigger kitchen area, or more partitioned desks. It could also be used for a meditation room or waiting area with a television.
Regardless of how you decide to take advantage of the extra room in your office, it's going to make your workplace much better.Â
Like many companies in Silicon Valley, we recognize the need to create an environmentally sustainable future.
This includes the production of our meeting pods. Zenbooth works with local suppliers and only includes recyclable or renewable materials in the construction of our products.Â
Not only that but all the wood used for the pods comes from local, American forests.Â
Contracting out for the construction of a conference room means you might not know exactly what materials you're adding to your work space.Â
Zenbooth representatives are happy to provide you information about how our meeting pods can improve your office. Professional assembly or an assembly tutorial can also be provided. We ship our models across the nation - the only exceptions being Hawaii and Alaska.Â
For information about financing, shipping and warranties get in touch with us at our contact page here.Â
]]>We are sorry to inform you that all our orders have been delayed beyond their offered lead time due to cascading supply chain shortages and limited labor availability. For example:Â
Zenbooth has been manufacturing phone booths and private spaces in California since 2016 and as a small business weâve weathered a range of challenges, but these past couple months have been especially challenging. We are also seeing a sharp increase in demand as people return to office and recognize the need for more private space.
Orders placed before August with lead times of 60 days may be delayed 4-6 weeks beyond their offered lead time. We realize this may cause unexpected disruption to some businesses and we are working overtime and bringing on additional staff to catch up. We are expecting to be able to ship future orders within 90 days and have updated our website accordingly.Â
These challenges have presented an opportunity for us to improve our product. We now use Californian sourced plywood that has slightly different edge grain. If youâre lucky, your order may also ship on a beautiful pallet that has been made from some of our scrap offcuts! See photo below. đł
Whilst we have taken numerous steps to secure our supply chain, we expect there may be continued disruption to our supply of wood and electrical components for until September.Â
Again, we thank you for your support. Our team is working hard to catch up and we apologize for any disappointment this may cause you. đÂ
Youâre welcome to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. đ
Â
]]>Recently, we heard from our customers that there was one comfort feature that they were particularly interested in: air quality, and more specifically, the emission of volatile organic compounds (or VOCs) inside the booths. Being able to breathe is comfort; knowing that the air youâre breathing is safe is necessary. As soon as we learned of this concern, we got to work figuring out how to credibly confirm what we already knew to be an inherently safe product.1
Weâre proud to announce that, as of this year, all Zenbooth products have earned an Intertek Clean Air GOLD certification, the highest distinction in Intertekâs Clean Air program.
]]>At Zenbooth, our mission is to make work comfortable.
For many Zenbooth customers, our booths are an important part of the workplace, and if youâre anything like our team, you might be spending hours inside of a booth over the course of a day. Thatâs why over the years, weâve made several improvements to our booths in an effort to make them more comfortable: dozens of iterations on our ventilation to keep you cool, the addition of an electric adjustable desk to improve ergonomics for all users, and countless others features.
Recently, we heard from our customers that there was one comfort feature that they were particularly interested in: air quality, and more specifically, the emission of volatile organic compounds (or VOCs) inside the booths. Being able to breathe is comfort; knowing that the air youâre breathing is safe is necessary. As soon as we learned of this concern, we got to work figuring out how to credibly confirm what we already knew to be an inherently safe product.1
Weâre proud to announce that, as of this year, all Zenbooth products have earned an Intertek Clean Air GOLD certification, the highest distinction in Intertekâs Clean Air program.
Volatile organic compounds (or VOCs) are emitted from a large variety of synthetic materials used in the construction of building and furniture products. The vaporizing, or off-gassing, of these materials causes chemicals to release into the air and can have harmful short-term and long-term effects on the health of users. These emissions can even have immediate negative health effects, such as eye and respiratory irritation, headaches, dizziness, nausea, or allergic skin reactions, and can sometimes result in even worse long-term effects.
By choosing products with an Intertek Clean Air GOLD certification for your workplace, youâre choosing to improve the quality of your indoor environment and the health of your employees. Your choice reflects a dedication to establishing an environmentally-friendly, safe, and ultimately, comfortable place for your team.
Intertek, a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, performs VOC/indoor air quality testing services for their Clean Air program, as part of their Sustainability Certification division. The Clean Air program independently tests and certifies products to regulated sustainability initiatives including, but not limited to, BIFMA e3, California CDPH, LEED, and WELL.
Earlier this year, we worked with Intertekâs compliance experts & scientists to test samples of our booths for their VOC emission levels in their globally-recognized ISO 17025 accredited labs, and were pleased to learn that our products exceeded the threshold for the Clean Air GOLD certification.
Clean Air Gold means more than just low VOC emissions. The certification includes:
The Intertek Clean Air GOLD certification meets the same BIFMA & CDPH standards as ULâs GreenGuard Gold certification, and exceeds the BIFMA standards of the standard UL GreenGuard certification.Â
We hope that this Intertek Clean Air GOLD certification helps you and your team feel more comfortable in the workplace. As always, we will continue to do our job to provide you with the safest, most comfortable solutions for your workplace - wherever that may be.
For more information on our Intertek Clean Air GOLD certification, including certificates, white papers and other materials, send us an email at hi@zenbooth.net or give us a call at (510) 646-8368.
1In a previous article, we talked about the safety of our materials, as well as our Californian supply chain and manufacturing.
]]>A report from the International Facility Management Association revealed that 70 percent of offices use an open floor plan.
Initially intended as a cost-cutting measure for reducing the square footage of office space, the open design was believed to encourage collaboration and communication among teammates. In reality, the open space concept reduced worker productivity. It has ultimately led to businesses devising new ways to make the open office more private.
A 2018 Harvard study showed open office spaces reduced communication among coworkers. Another report found that open office environments produced a negative effect on employees, including decreased attention span and productivity. The same report found elevated stress levels among employees subjected to such workspaces.
In addition to feeling stressed and distracted, some expressed dissatisfaction with their jobs because of the open layout. Being forced to work in an environment that was not conducive to encouraging productivity led those same employees to find it necessary to search for other employment.
]]>A report from the International Facility Management Association revealed that 70 percent of offices use an open floor plan.
Initially intended as a cost-cutting measure for reducing the square footage of office space, the open design was believed to encourage collaboration and communication among teammates. In reality, the open space concept reduced worker productivity. It has ultimately led to businesses devising new ways to make the open office more private.
A 2018 Harvard study showed open office spaces reduced communication among coworkers. Another report found that open office environments produced a negative effect on employees, including decreased attention span and productivity. The same report found elevated stress levels among employees subjected to such workspaces.
In addition to feeling stressed and distracted, some expressed dissatisfaction with their jobs because of the open layout. Being forced to work in an environment that was not conducive to encouraging productivity led those same employees to find it necessary to search for other employment.
Some workers were so desperate for a break from the open-office concept that they expressed the willingness to give up other amenities. Here's a quick look:
Some workers wanted quiet in their work environments so much that they offered to give up the annual office holiday party in exchange for access to more privacy. Others said they would willingly agree to a $7,600 pay cut in exchange for more flexibility in their office environment.
Focusing without the added interruptions that plague open office spaces is a top priority for many workers. There is a disconnect, however, between how workers view the office environment and how it is viewed by their bosses. Nearly two-thirds of executives think their employees already are equipped with the right tools to get their jobs done. Fewer than half of employees agree.
Any benefits, such as easy collaboration, are overshadowed by the numerous disadvantages of open offices.
It is a simple fact: the more people who are in a shared environment, the louder that space becomes. It can be difficult to focus on your work and to sound professional on calls with clients when there are overwhelming levels of background noise.Â
Visual and auditory noise can reduce the ability to focus and stay on task. Meaningless background noise is sometimes less distracting than snippets of multiple conversations happening around you. Workers may find themselves drawn into various conversations occurring nearby instead of being able to concentrate on their tasks.
Open office designs lend themselves to hosting a constant stream of colleagues, suppliers and customers. With so many people having easy access to your workspace, it can breed an environment of distrust.
All it takes is for one person in the office to get sick to potentially infect the entire staff. Open spaces circulate the same air, therefore circulating the same germs. One staff member who is ill has the potential to take out the entire office. A Danish study concluded that shared office spaces with more than six people are likely to cause a 62-percent increase in the number of sick days among staff members each year.
Every office has at least one staff member who is either deliberately or unwittingly annoying to those around them. It could be their constant need to chitchat with their coworkers or the smelly tuna sandwich they eat at their desks every day. Whatever the reason, personality clashes are more likely to occur and cause distraction in an open office.
It is unrealistic to expect companies that invested tidy sums into their current design to go back to a cubicle or private office setup. They either may not have the funds or the location available to make the change.Â
Fortunately, there are viable options to improve your workplace. They provide similar opportunities for communication and collaboration without the added distractions.
Activity-based working (ABW) environments provide the best of both worlds through a combination of open and task-oriented spaces. ABWs offer more privacy and flexibility to workers when required to accomplish a specific job.
This kind of office setup drastically reduces the overhead associated with wasted office space while still giving staff the options to adjust their work area as needed.
Zenbooth is an industry leader in office privacy, with many solutions that fit nicely into an activity-based working environment. Our full suite of office phone booths is designed to provide comfort and increase productivity while maximizing existing office space to its fullest potential.
The Zenbooth Solo provides an optimized acoustic experience and is suitable for one person. This free-standing office privacy booth includes integrated lighting, an adjustable standing desk and a UL-listed electrical interface capable of powering electronic devices. The full skylight ceiling design allows for additional lighting and a more open look and feel. Â
The Zenbooth Duo has an adjustable standing desk that provides ample space for two coworkers and their devices. It also comes with two UL-listed electrical interfaces allowing coworkers to keep their gadgets powered while enjoying the added privacy of the soundproof booth.
For meeting space capable of hosting four to six guests, the Zenbooth Quad is ideal. It is designed to efficiently and cost-effectively mimic a small conference room.Â
Like its smaller counterparts, this booth provides a soundproof environment with comfortable accommodations, such as a small conference table with seating. The twin high-powered ventilation fans maintain an ideal temperature in the booth. The double power and data units include four fast-charging USB outlets, six 15A 110v electrical outlets and two grommets for data and phone cables.
Fox Business News touts the benefits of office booths and their ability to cut workplace sounds in half. Among other benefits, these booths increase productivity, help workers stay on task and reduce the stress associated with loud office environments.
The physical design of office space is directly linked to the mental health and well-being of workers. It is to the benefit of employers to find cost-effective ways to provide work environments that foster productivity and reduce stress.
Are you ready to bring more zen to your current office design? Tired of the noise and confusion hindering productivity and increasing stress levels?
Zenbooth is the ultimate solution to all of your problems. We make it easy to select, finance and ship any of our Zenbooth products â from our door to yours takes as little as 10 days. All booths come with a 30-day return period. Contact us today or order online.
]]>With their cost-efficient design, clean look and supposed productivity boost, open offices sounded like the perfect setupâŚuntil they didnât.
A study done in 2018 by Harvard Business School discovered that face-to-face interaction between coworkers decreased by 70 percent when employees moved from a closed workspace to an open office environment. Exactly the opposite of what theyâre supposed to do!
For the most part, employees are less happy in open office spaces where distraction and lack of privacy make working difficult. And employee dissatisfaction means decreased productivity and higher turnover. Another 2018 study found that approximately 13 percent of office employees considered quitting their job because of this office layout.
Letâs talk about some of the most common open office problems and what you can do to mitigate them.
Itâs no surprise that corralling dozens of employees in the same spaces is going to create noise. Even the necessary, everyday office functions like collaborating with a coworker on a project, printing documents or even simply typing can contribute to the level of noise pollution in an office.
]]>With their cost-efficient design, clean look and supposed productivity boost, open offices sounded like the perfect setupâŚuntil they didnât.
A study done in 2018 by Harvard Business School discovered that face-to-face interaction between coworkers decreased by 70 percent when employees moved from a closed workspace to an open office environment. Exactly the opposite of what theyâre supposed to do!
For the most part, employees are less happy in open office spaces where distraction and lack of privacy make working difficult. And employee dissatisfaction means decreased productivity and higher turnover. Another 2018 study found that approximately 13 percent of office employees considered quitting their job because of this office layout.
Letâs talk about some of the most common open office problems and what you can do to mitigate them.
Itâs no surprise that corralling dozens of employees in the same spaces is going to create noise. Even the necessary, everyday office functions like collaborating with a coworker on a project, printing documents or even simply typing can contribute to the level of noise pollution in an office.
And thatâs not even getting into non-work-related noises like personal phone calls, lunch conversations and more.
Unbearable noise levels are one of the top complaints when it comes to open office spaces, with over 63 percent of employees reporting a lack of quiet space that they could use to complete their work.
Not only is loud noise extremely annoying, it is also detrimental to work quality and efficiency. It can take approximately 20 minutes to regain focus after a disruption, especially noise disruptions; studies show that U.S. office workers lose 86 minutes of work a day due to distractions.
Consistent noise disruption is a common and frustrating problem in open offices and can lead to less output, low employee morale and more turnover.Â
Open offices claim to make it easier to interact, but what they really do is make it easier to distract.
From noise distractions to constant visual disruptions, these potent open office problems offer a constant flow of input bombarding employees from all sides.Â
Even the most dedicated workers can find themselves losing precious work time as they are exposed to distracting conversations, music, groups and more.
An open office is full of scents, from that coworker's excessive perfume to that tuna sandwich another colleague enjoys for lunch.
Unlike other distractions such as conversations, music and temperature, smell usually canât be immediately resolved. In an open office environment, thereâs nothing to stop bad smells from permeating the whole area, making work uncomfortable for long periods of time.Â
Studies show that smells influence not only our moods and behaviors but work performance thanks to their direct and indirect impact on our brains. Even commonly accepted scents like florals, citrus and peppermint can be distracting if not used in moderation or if an employee has previous negative associations with a smell.
If thatâs the case, one can only imagine how distracting âbadâ smells â like sweat, body odor, onion, garlic, etc. â can be.
Employees may find it especially difficult to resolve this problem, thanks to its sensitive nature. After all, itâs never fun to be the one to tell a coworker that their smell is bothering you.
Itâs too hot, itâs too cold, and itâs never just right for most people. Regulating the temperature of an open office can be a full-time job in and of itself. A 2018 survey conducted by The Harris Poll found that nearly 50 percent of office workers are unhappy with the temperature in their office.
Exercising control over our environment â whether by setting the temperature, decorating, dimming the lights or something else â is one way to keep employees happy at work. If office workers feel like they have no control over their environment, morale will plummet.
That being said, itâs not feasible to be constantly adjusting temperatures throughout the day. Employees can bring jackets, blankets, heaters, fans, or wear breathable clothing, but open offices
may still experience disagreements over the right to control the thermostat.
Open offices can be annoying, but did you know they can be dangerous to your health, too?
With no barriers to limit the flow of germs, open office employees are 62 percent more likely to take sick leave than their closed office counterparts. Additionally, harmful levels of noise increase blood pressure and trigger the release of stress hormones, making employees feel even worse.
A Cornell University study shows that employees in high-noise environments experience increased epinephrine (or adrenaline) levels as well as residual behaviors that indicate a lack of motivation even after theyâre removed from a noisy situation. Open office employees are less likely to be motivated in their work and more likely to feel stress.
This same study also indicates that open office employees are at a higher risk for bad posture and the related health effects.
It might surprise you to learn that introverts make up a large percentage of the workforce. What happens when you place an introvert in an open office environment?
Theyâre not that happy.
Introverts are easily overstimulated by the loud noises taking place around them and by the constant visual input and interruptions. Constant stimulating environments arenât beneficial to anyone, especially to introverts who have no place to get away.Â
Open offices seldom provide relief or relaxation rooms for workers who need time away from stimulation.Â
One of the worst problems in an open office is the lack of privacy, which often negatively affects performance.
Employees actually do worse when they believe that all eyes (and ears) are on them. They are often so concerned with appearing busy that they arenât working at full capacity.
A lack of privacy is also frustrating for those trying to make a personal call or engage in a personal conversation. It also leads to a lack of security, which can be a huge problem for companies that deal with confidential client info or health records.Â
Open offices fail when they go for a âone-size-fits-allâ approach. Yes, itâs important to have areas for collaboration and gathering, but itâs equally important to provide rooms where employees can recharge, avoid noises and other common open office problems.
Our solution? The Zenbooth.
Zenbooths offer the best of both worlds: theyâre easily installed in an open office environment and provide a quiet and private safe haven for individuals and groups to work. Our meeting booths come in a variety of sizes, including Solo, Duo, and Quad options.
Each model offers several benefits that directly combat stereotypical open office problems:
Visit our website to see additional Zenbooth features. Contact us today to learn about deals on multiple purchases or to discover how our office privacy pods can change your workplace for the better.
]]>However, even without health concerns, open workplace environments have many other downfalls â downfalls that usually outweigh their benefits. Fortunately, thereâs a simple solution that addresses many of these problems: the office pod.Â
Open office floor plans took off during the 1980s and afterwards, although theyâve actually been around for hundreds of years, like in bookkeeping and newsrooms. It was thought that open workspaces facilitated creativity and the flow of information between employees. But those benefits came with a price.
One of the worst disadvantages of open offices is the noise and distractions that are inherent in their design. Even with cubical dividers, users canât help but overhear work conversations and the sounds of office machinery. In some cases, fellow employees listen to music, watch videos, and engage in personal chats on their mobile phones.
Noisy offices can make businesses sound unprofessional to clients on the other end of a phone call. In-person meetings disrupt everyone around them, but it doesnât always make sense to sign out a large conference room for just a few people.
]]>However, even without health concerns, open workplace environments have many other downfalls â downfalls that usually outweigh their benefits. Fortunately, thereâs a simple solution that addresses many of these problems: the office pod.Â
Open office floor plans took off during the 1980s and afterwards, although theyâve actually been around for hundreds of years, like in bookkeeping and newsrooms. It was thought that open workspaces facilitated creativity and the flow of information between employees. But those benefits came with a price.
One of the worst disadvantages of open offices is the noise and distractions that are inherent in their design. Even with cubical dividers, users canât help but overhear work conversations and the sounds of office machinery. In some cases, fellow employees listen to music, watch videos, and engage in personal chats on their mobile phones.
Noisy offices can make businesses sound unprofessional to clients on the other end of a phone call. In-person meetings disrupt everyone around them, but it doesnât always make sense to sign out a large conference room for just a few people.
Likewise, visual distractions can be equally problematic. Employees getting up and down from their desks, people coming from the elevator, and visitors passing by all pose interruptions throughout the typical workday.
These might sound like trivial nuisances, but workplace distractions are actually much more serious than they first seem. According to a study done by Humboldt University in Berlin, it can take workers up to 23 minutes to refocus on a task once they are distracted from it. If an employee is interrupted from their work dozens of times per day, that time to refocus represents lost productivity and a hit to the businessâs bottom line.
Furthermore, many employees report that noisy and distracting work environments cause them considerable stress. This ultimately results in more sick days for employees in noisy workplaces. It also makes employee retention and recruitment more challenging, even among younger job candidates who allegedly prefer these modern open offices.
Along with excess noise, lack of privacy tops the list of concerns for employees using open offices. Some workers simply donât like the âgoldfish bowlâ feeling of an open floor plan and prefer not to conduct their every task with dozens of people watching them. Others find it intimidating when it comes to making a private phone call to the doctorâs office or to their spouse.
Managers often bemoan the lack of privacy that comes with an open office floor plan. While it makes supervising a large group of employees easier, it creates confidentiality problems with management meetings, employee reviews, and other conversations that should remain discreet.
As mentioned in the introduction, health issues are another downside to open office layouts. Although worries about COVID-19 are the most recent example of how open offices can be troublesome, winter cold and flu season during regular years make open work environments breeding grounds for shared germs.
Coughing and sneezing, we now know, can expel viruses many feet away. And of course the noise of someone nearby with a cold is yet another distraction workers donât need.
Luckily, there is an easy solution to the problems listed above: office pods. These phone booth-like mini rooms can be set up quickly to create discrete spaces within an open office. They can become permanent offices for managers, a place where employees can do quiet work, a small conference room, or extra space for other workplace needs.
The most obvious use for an office pod is to create a relaxation room, whether for a full dayâs work or a short phone call. Users of these handy pods enjoy their flexibility. Some companies use a sign-out system, while others have them assigned for various tasks.
Office pods are ideal for telephone conversations with clients, high-concentration assignments, meetings with consultants, and any work that involves videos, such as employee onboarding and training. They make great small conference rooms, and when installed in multiples can handle several meetings simultaneously.
Office pods also satisfy the need for workplace privacy. Managers can meet among themselves without employees overhearing and give performance reviews in a confidential setting. Client meetings or conversations with accountants and auditors stay private as well.
Some businesses use office pods for non-work privacy. Because of their enclosed design, they make wonderful spots for meditation, nursing moms, or even nap spaces. Thereâs no end to what businesses can do with them.
Many companies are adding pods to replace cubicles as their employees come back to the office after working at home. Long-term experts see a move away from open offices prompted by the pandemic, but instant transformation isnât always feasible. An office pod is a happy medium for companies exploring new health-based layouts.
Zenbooth is a manufacturer of premier office pods that come in three different sizes and offer an array of desirable features. The Zenbooth Solo is a one-person booth, the Duo is for two people, and the Quad is a four-person movable meeting room.Â
However, any of these pods can be utilized by one person if more space is needed. For example, the Quad is ideal as a permanent office, with room for not only a desk but bookcases or other common furnishings.
Zenbooths are made of sturdy and attractive wooden exteriors with several different finish options. Designed with accessibility and convenience in mind, these pods have a minimal threshold and a door with a magnet closure. Both exterior and interior surfaces are easy to wipe clean. A plexiglass ceiling allows in extra light and makes the booths feel spacious.
Zenbooths offer superior sound dampening. Recycled denim insulation is layered with acoustic felt panels to minimize sound in both directions. Conversations stay private, and worker productivity isnât affected by noise, whether in the booth or working nearby.
Zenbooth interiors are designed for maximum comfort and flexibility. Both the Solo and Duo come with the option of adjustable height desks, so workers can sit or stand. All Zenbooth models are equipped with efficient ventilation via high-powered, motion-activated fans.
Integrated dimmable lighting adds to the skylight for custom light settings. The electrical interface allows for multiple devices to be used. Traditional AC and USB charging let users run laptops, mobile devices, and other electronics. A portal provides entry for traditional phone lines and data cables.
Zenbooth office pods ship quickly and can be set up in half a day or less with a few tools. Or assembly can be purchased. All thatâs needed is a nearby 110V three-prong outlet to power the booth.
A Zenbooth office pod is a much more reasonably priced alternative to permanent construction to deal with noise, lack of privacy, or the need for physical distancing in any open office. To learn more about Zenbooth or place an order, reach out online and speak with a member of the Zenbooth team today.
]]>But even though many employers favor the idea of having employees work at arms length of each other, this layout scheme actually diminishes productivity because what workers really crave is privacy.
A majority of employers believe that an open office encourages face-to-face interactions between coworkers, boosting workplace collaboration. It also seems easier to manage and supervise employees without physical barriers breaking the field of view. Do these claims hold any truth, and is such close supervision really necessary or welcome in a work environment?
A recent Harvard study investigating the correlation between open office architecture and collaboration found that the former does not inspire teamwork and is actually counterproductive. Firms that switched to open offices saw a 70-percent drop in face-to-face interactions. Besides, forced co-presence, which is what an open floor plan promotes, does not necessarily result in productive cooperation among coworkers.
]]>But even though many employers favor the idea of having employees work at arms length of each other, this layout scheme actually diminishes productivity because what workers really crave is privacy.
A majority of employers believe that an open office encourages face-to-face interactions between coworkers, boosting workplace collaboration. It also seems easier to manage and supervise employees without physical barriers breaking the field of view. Do these claims hold any truth, and is such close supervision really necessary or welcome in a work environment?
A recent Harvard study investigating the correlation between open office architecture and collaboration found that the former does not inspire teamwork and is actually counterproductive. Firms that switched to open offices saw a 70-percent drop in face-to-face interactions. Besides, forced co-presence, which is what an open floor plan promotes, does not necessarily result in productive cooperation among coworkers.
What's more, 53 percent of employees in a survey said that they value their personal space, and only 28 percent said they like open office spaces.Â
There is no real justification for open-plan offices, especially when you put together the many disadvantages of the layout, which include:
Although the substantial shortcomings of open offices might outweigh their simplicity and cost-saving benefits, many organizations have no choice but to make do with the same, mainly because of space limitations. Also, some workplace models are best suited to an open floor plan. So, for many companies, itâs not practical or feasible to completely do away with their current design.
If thatâs the case, you should at least try to resolve one of the main drawbacks â privacy. The lack of it can not only impair productivity but also deteriorate employeesâ mental and emotional wellness. In fact, open-plan offices report some of the highest levels of emotional exhaustion among workers. This often leads to high rates of absenteeism, low morale and reduced motivation to work.
The good news is, you donât have to overhaul your entire office layout to provide your employees with a much-needed sense of seclusion. A bit of space-efficient reorganizing, installing new, high-end office furniture and a restructuring of the work culture is all you need to make employees feel comfortable in the workplace.Â
Here are some clever ways to make the best of whatever space you have to create some privacy in an open office.
One of the biggest problems in open offices is dealing with chatty, annoying coworkers. The noise issue cuts both ways; it's nearly impossible to have a private chat with a coworker among eavesdroppers. At the same time, busy workers can't help overhearing conversations from every part of the room. Add that to the endless ambient noises from the ruffling of papers, squeaking chairs and clacking keyboards, and the office turns into an orchestra of annoyance.
Some office workers resort to wearing noise-canceling headphones to keep out distractions, but that is only a temporary fix that doesnât help everyone. A more holistic and permanent solution would be to try and dampen any sounds within the room.Â
For starters, line the interior walls with noise-absorbent material, cover the floor with a thick rug and install a drop ceiling with soundproofing qualities. Doing so can help minimize echoes and sound propagation in the office. A quiet work environment also encourages employee productivity in a big way.Â
An agile workspace is an improvement on the open floor plan that adds a bit of flexibility in the workplace and greatly promotes privacy. In this layout, the traditional open working space remains, but employees have access to secluded areas for tasks requiring privacy and detachment from the crowd.
The designated areas are calm environments that support a variety of individual and group activities such as private conversations, phone calls, meetings and even some me-time.
These isolation zones need to be noise and distraction free, but since putting up walls is often not a feasible design plan, the best option is to install office phone booths.Â
Our Zenbooth Solo is ideal for maximum privacy when making phone calls and working on focus-intensive tasks. The Zenbooth Duo is intended for private chats and meetings between two workers. Meanwhile, the Zenbooth Quad is a huddle room big enough to comfortably house up to six people engaging in conference-style meetings or collaborative team activities.
The idea of an agile layout is to have detached areas where employees can experience some privacy and get away from the noisy clutter of the open environment whenever they need to. Office booths are both an escape and a way to get things done quickly.
In an open office, privacy has a lot to do with how employees are grouped. A random sitting arrangement can be counterproductive, and some individuals may feel exposed and uncomfortable working next to total strangers. An office neighborhood layout should group employees in designated workspaces based on their tasks and roles in the organization.
Think of office neighborhoods as a team-based office style. For example, staff working in the same field or on related tasks can share a common workspace without necessarily owning any specific desks or workstations. This arrangement promotes teamwork among like-minded individuals, and is the closest you can get to separating different departments in an open office.
Office neighborhoods create a sense of community and belonging, stimulating close connections among coworkers. They also promote exclusivity, which, in many ways, nurtures privacy â more so if the office has booths where groups can meet privately and take a breather from the communal workspace.
The Zenbooth Duo or Quad provide the perfect space to setup your office neighborhoods.Â
One of the go-to solutions for bringing privacy in an open office has always been to put up cubicles. But cubicles are uncomfortable, waste space and do not resolve distraction and privacy issues because they can't be soundproofed. An effective remedy requires you to think outside the box and forget about traditional office layouts.
Limited floor space and cost are, in most cases, the main challenges when trying to achieve privacy in the workplace. But with some economic space management, you can take advantage of low-cost office products to completely transform your workplace and give your employees the experience they deserve.
Zenbooths are making headlines as one of the latest innovations in helping organizations enhance employee satisfaction and boost productivity in open offices. Our office booths are designed and built to meet the needs of the modern workplace and its staff.
Zenbooths provide a calm atmosphere for individual or group privacy needs. Each booth blocks up to 40 decibels of noise for quality quiet time during exclusive meetings and one-on-one face time. Zenbooths come fitted with active ventilation to keep the interior fresh and cool. They contain an array of connectivity ports to plug in laptops and smartphones. They are also made from durable, easy-to-clean material. The booths take up minimal space in the office and do not require any permanent changes to the roomâs architecture.
Get in touch with us to learn more about Zenbooths and how we can help bring privacy, calm and serenity to your open office.
]]>Soundproof headphones and strict office rules may bring the volume down, but for a real solution, employers will have to look to high-end furniture that is made for the modern office space.
One of the most common complaints among workers everywhere is that their office is too loud. Whether they're in office cubicles, an open office or an agile office layout, it seems like there aren't enough realistic options for folks who need a quiet space to get away from distractions.Â
Studies have even shown that employees would be willing to sacrifice a variety of amenities if it meant having more privacy at work, including vacation days and coffee machines.Â
Without soundproofing, workers are more likely to get distracted by ringing phones, fingers typing, conversations among coworkers and even interpersonal conflict.
]]>Soundproof headphones and strict office rules may bring the volume down, but for a real solution, employers will have to look to high-end furniture that is made for the modern office space.
One of the most common complaints among workers everywhere is that their office is too loud. Whether they're in office cubicles, an open office or an agile office layout, it seems like there aren't enough realistic options for folks who need a quiet space to get away from distractions.Â
Studies have even shown that employees would be willing to sacrifice a variety of amenities if it meant having more privacy at work, including vacation days and coffee machines.Â
Without soundproofing, workers are more likely to get distracted by ringing phones, fingers typing, conversations among coworkers and even interpersonal conflict.
It's critical to a healthy work environment to have a silent space where workers can conduct sensitive calls, have private conversations or even take a nap if that's how you see the space best serving your team.Â
It will help them be more productive and give them a place to socialize and bond without disrupting other workers. Given the impact that a work environment can have on people's mental and physical health, creating meaningful changes to the workspace should be a priority for every employer.
For a long time, people thought that open offices were the solution to the seclusion that comes with cubicles or closed office layouts. However, neither layout offers much privacy, despite all the soundproofing that people try and fail to incorporate into cubicles. Unfortunately, many of these attempts at bringing down the volume of the workspace can border on useless.Â
The most costly way to soundproof is to try and create entirely new rooms. This is unrealistic for most businesses for several reasons. The construction services required can be too expensive, too noisy, too distracting, and in many cases can't proceed without the approval of the building owner.Â
How about the cheaper soundproofing alternatives? Unfortunately, most of these alternatives, while they may not be as costly as an outright construction project, are not a total solution to your problems. This includes efforts such as:
While these efforts may work to some degree, there is a much more effective and practical solution for businesses of all sizes and every industry.
Zenbooth offers a convenient and affordable alternative for people fed up with the noise level in their offices. Whether you work in an open, closed, or agile office layout, a Zenbooth phone booth can be seamlessly implemented into your space. You'll love their calming aesthetic and various additional features.
These booths can offer you something that all these tips and tricks online can't â actual soundproofed space. No need for headphones or strict office volume rules that restrict conversation among coworkers. Zenbooth's units are outfitted with 3.5-inch-thick walls with echo absorption panels, making it easy for workers to get away from everything going on in their office.Â
There are three different Zenbooth models to choose from. Â
The Solo unit is ideal for one worker who wants to step away from the crowd. This phone booth style is perfect for making a private phone call, focusing on a time-sensitive assignment or having some quiet time to decompress. This comfortable but compact booth fits easily into any office area.Â
The Duo works as a two-person, portable meeting pod. Like both the Solo, the Duo is outfitted with dimmable lights and a shatterproof skylight ceiling to prevent harsh lighting, which has been linked to unproductivity. These booths also come with numerous electrical outlets to ensure that workers never have to leave the quiet space just to charge a device.Â
The Quad is also similar to the Solo and Duo, but it can accommodate anywhere from four to six people. This larger booth still takes up less space than your typical conference room, and its sleek maple exterior makes it fit right into every office aesthetic. With its twin high-powered ventilation system, small groups of workers can focus on a group project or host meetings without having to worry about becoming claustrophobic or overheated.
The great thing about office phone booths is that they're incredibly versatile and can accommodate all different spaces and needs. That's why workers of every industry love all three of these units. They're the ideal environment for various different occurrences in the office, including:
When it comes to soundproofing an office or a cubicle, new carpets and softer chairs just don't cut it. That's why Zenbooth is here to be one of the most convenient, efficient and affordable ways to create soundproofed spaces in your office. Our Solo, Duo and Quad booths are loved by workers everywhere for their effectiveness, style and comfort.Â
The best part? Not having to pay for distracting construction projects. Zenbooth units can be installed with ease in just one afternoon. Whether you're located on the top floor or down in your building's basement, you'll have no problem transporting the unit and assembling it where you want it. We even offer free installation of the Quad unit for your convenience.Â
Ready to revolutionize your office space? Check out our soundproofed booths on our website. We're offering free shipping and a free 30-day return period, and we'd love it if you gave one of our units a try. Have any questions? Don't hesitate to reach out through our website to learn more about what our products can do for you and your business.
]]>This is especially true if you work in an office environment that remains open during the outbreak. And if youâre fortunate enough to have office phone booths or pods, you may be looking for some special tips on how to keep them sanitary during this challenging time.
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Maintaining a clean work environment is essential to your health, well-being and that of your staff. We've got some best practices below so you can continue maximizing your office booth.
The first thing to know is that the success of your office cleaning regime, including specific areas such as phone booths, will depend on a robust and well-communicated cleaning policy.
Let your entire staff know the expected frequency and method of cleaning. If your office provides clorox wipes or lysol, make sure the entire team knows where they are. Same with plastic gloves. An ideal frequency for cleaning most areas is before and after an employee is done using them.Â
Also inform individual staff members of their personal hygienic responsibilities. This includes washing their hands for 30 seconds before and after using communal areas or shared spaces.
]]>This is especially true if you work in an office environment that remains open during the outbreak. And if youâre fortunate enough to have office phone booths or pods, you may be looking for some special tips on how to keep them sanitary during this challenging time.
Â
Maintaining a clean work environment is essential to your health, well-being and that of your staff. We've got some best practices below so you can continue maximizing your office booth.
The first thing to know is that the success of your office cleaning regime, including specific areas such as phone booths, will depend on a robust and well-communicated cleaning policy.
Let your entire staff know the expected frequency and method of cleaning. If your office provides clorox wipes or lysol, make sure the entire team knows where they are. Same with plastic gloves. An ideal frequency for cleaning most areas is before and after an employee is done using them.Â
Also inform individual staff members of their personal hygienic responsibilities. This includes washing their hands for 30 seconds before and after using communal areas or shared spaces.Â
You may need to provide targeted training for staff who have specific cleaning duties. If certain employees arrive first or last on site, these folks may have special tasks they need to consider.Â
Before you embark on cleaning your office phone booth, ensure that you â or whoever is to carry out the job â is properly prepared.
Disposable gloves, masks and gowns are all options and should be properly thrown away of after the cleaning process.
As mentioned, training is part of the preparation process. The individuals who carry out cleaning and disinfection of your office, including phone booths, must be instructed in safe and effective techniques.
To get the most out of your cleaning and disinfection regime, follow these tips:
To keep your office phone booth sanitized, clean all surfaces first with a solution of hot water and detergent, or use disinfectant wipes. This will eliminate some germs, making the subsequent disinfection process more effective.
After cleaning comes disinfection. You can find a list of disinfectants that work against SARS-CoV-2 on the Environmental Protection Agency website. You can also use a solution of bleach and water as an effective disinfectant.
Items that are often overlooked such as phones and keyboards can be the dirtiest devices in your office. In fact, a recent study looking at levels of contamination found that 92 percent of phones and 96 percent of keyboards they tested were covered in bacteria. This is why it's so important to pay attention to detail and clean your everyday items frequently.
Consider using alcohol wipes and sprays for phones, keyboards and the interior of your phone booth, paying particular attention to light switches and door handles which are touched frequently. Note that to be effective, wipes and sprays should contain at least 70% alcohol.
Finally, make sure that your cleaning and disinfection regime is carried out on a regular basis. The easiest way to do this is to put up signage in your workplace showing the dates and times of cleaning sessions.Â
This will also reassure employees and visitors that you are adhering to an effective cleaning and disinfection routine.
Zenbooth specializes in providing booths suitable for up to six people. Each booth offers a small, private space with ventilation and power.
These booths come with a whole host of benefits, including:
If youâd like to know more about any of our innovative products, contact us to talk to one of our team members.
In the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic, weâve learned that itâs more important than ever to keep our work environment clean and safe. Investing in a office phone booth to increase your enclosed space will reward you with happier staff and a healthier, safer workplace â now and in the future.
]]>An article in Forbes magazine suggested that businesses who have an employee wellness program are more likely to be rewarded by employees recommending their company as a good place to work.
It also quoted research in which 61 percent of employees agreed that their companyâs wellness program inspired them to make healthy changes to their lifestyles. The result was that productivity at work went up, as well as job satisfaction.
And something as simple as installing an office phone booth in your floor plan can help you find the healthy balance you need. These products offer many health benefits â from the mental to the physical â which are worth looking into.Â
Office phone booths are a free-standing pod that can be used in any area of your workplace to provide privacy.
If you go with a provider like Zenbooth, these products are soundproofed to ensure that conversations canât be heard beyond the booth itself, and may be equipped with an electric, height adjustable desk to make daily tasks more convenient.
]]>As staff become increasingly conscious of their job's health effects, employers are looking for a variety of solutions to boost their workersâ well-being.Â
An article in Forbes magazine suggested that businesses who have an employee wellness program are more likely to be rewarded by employees recommending their company as a good place to work.
It also quoted research in which 61 percent of employees agreed that their companyâs wellness program inspired them to make healthy changes to their lifestyles. The result was that productivity at work went up, as well as job satisfaction.
And something as simple as installing an office phone booth in your floor plan can help you find the healthy balance you need. These products offer many health benefits â from the mental to the physical â which are worth looking into.Â
Office phone booths are a free-standing pod that can be used in any area of your workplace to provide privacy.
If you go with a provider like Zenbooth, these products are soundproofed to ensure that conversations canât be heard beyond the booth itself, and may be equipped with an electric, height adjustable desk to make daily tasks more convenient.
At a time when 70 percent of office spaces in the US are open-plan, you can easily see the potential benefits of providing a secluded workspace in a bustling and sometimes distracting environment. (Read their latest open floor plan article "Why can't I concentrate in an open office?" here.)
Office phone booths can help alleviate many of the stresses of working in noisy offices and promote a healthier working environment. Here's how:
Working in a noise polluted office can cause real and measurable effects on your body.Â
When youâre stressed, you release hormones such as adrenaline, which causes your blood pressure to increase, and cortisol, which prepares your body for a fight-or-flight response.Â
These stress hormones alter your bodyâs natural balance, and if you are exposed to them too frequently, you could end up with long-term issues such as digestive problems, heart disease, anxiety and depression.
Employers recognize that a quiet space is essential to keep stress levels low and productivity high. In fact, CNBC reported on a survey that found 58 percent of high-performing employees required more private space to work through difficult tasks and 54 percent found their workplace âtoo distracting.â
A simple step like installing one or more phone booths for employees can take away much of this stress and anxiety.
Trying to focus on a difficult task in a buzzing office is not only stressful, but can also be time-consuming.
A study carried out by Humboldt University in Berlin found that itâs not easy to get your focus back on track once youâve been interrupted â in fact, it takes up to 23 minutes to restore your previous level of concentration.
Aside from helping you focus on your work, quiet spaces like phone booths can contribute to a lower error rate. In an article on the topic, Fox Business News reported that because they allow for quiet concentration, workers make 10 percent fewer mistakes as a result.
Clearly this is great for both employee morale and workplace productivity. Many wonder how to focus and work in an open office, but its clear the answer is to close things up.
Did you know that spending all of your time in an open-plan office increases your chances of getting sick?
In a study carried out by Stockholm University, researchers assessed different types of offices and the links between the amount of short and long-term illnesses the employees suffered. They also looked at how many sick days a year employees took. They found that workers had a higher chance of experiencing short periods of sickness when they worked with no privacy.Â
Another study carried out in Denmark shows that workers in an open-plan office took 62 percent more sick days than their counterparts in completely enclosed offices.
While it may not be practical to completely refigure or move your office setup, you can easily set aside a designated enclosed space such as a phone booth to make your open office more private.Â
This should reduce the risk of getting sick significantly and lead to a happier and healthier workforce in the long term.
Everyone needs some time out of their work day, and itâs a well-documented fact that workers who have regular breaks work smarter and are more productive.
In fact, the ideal routine was found to be a work session of 52 minutes followed by a break of 17 minutes. Itâs no coincidence that separate research has established that the brain works best in episodes of intense activity lasting about an hour, followed by a lull where it recharges its batteries by relaxing for a short period of time.
A break for workers means a real change to their physical environment. So, even just stepping away from their desk and into a private phone booth can provide the adjustment they need to return to their tasks refreshed.
Zenbooth specializes in providing booths suitable for up to six people, including the Zenbooth Solo which offers a small, private workspace with ventilation and power.
Itâs soundproofed so that conversations canât be overheard, and comes with dimmable LED lighting and a full skylight ceiling, creating a secure and pleasant atmosphere for work or relaxation.
The Solo model complies with accessibility requirements, and is fully equipped with a power and data unit, USB ports and outlets for data and phone cables.
Its ventilation system circulates a boothâs worth of clean air every minute, allowing you to breathe fresh air and avoid feeling groggy while inside.Â
If you need a little more space, check out the Zenbooth Duo. This versatile booth is perfect for two people, and works well for formal and informal meetings and private phone calls.
Or take a look at the Quad, Zenbooth's largest model which provides conference space for small groups of four to six people.Â
Ordering a Zenbooth is super easy, and you can take advantage of special deals on multiple purchases, as well as quick delivery and free 30-day returns.
Want to know more about how you can design your office for health and productivity with an office phone booth? Simply contact their friendly team about their versatile selection of products.Â
]]>Zenbooth has created office spaces perfect for 21st-century operations. Our products allow companies to push for higher versatility and work levels by helping staff encounter fewer distractions. They may even enjoy better health as a result of installing our solo and meeting pods.Â
In 1950s West Germany, innovators in office design started to pioneer the open office concept. Simply put, the idea was to remove walls from workspaces, encouraging more communication or collaboration.
Some American workplaces, such as newsrooms and police departments, where much work took place outside the office, had already employed this strategy.Â
]]>Zenbooth has created office spaces perfect for 21st-century operations. Our products allow companies to push for higher versatility and work levels by helping staff encounter fewer distractions. They may even enjoy better health as a result of installing our solo and meeting pods.Â
In 1950s West Germany, innovators in office design started to pioneer the open office concept. Simply put, the idea was to remove walls from workspaces, encouraging more communication or collaboration.
Some American workplaces, such as newsrooms and police departments, where much work took place outside the office, had already employed this strategy.Â
Colloquially, these offices were often called âbullpens.â
Open office setups had an overriding goal in mind that dovetailed well with practicality. Advocates for the scheme claimed that without walls in place, workers could share ideas more easily. Instead of having to travel to an office, spontaneous sharing would make development more efficient and effective.
Experts also predicted that open spaces would create effective egalitarianism, breaking barriers between staff and supervisors.
Practically, open offices also cost much less than traditional, divided workspaces. Fewer walls with less wiring and other costs meant less spent on overhead. Companies saw it as a win-win and invested heavily. By the turn of the century, four out of five offices relied on this idea in some form.
This would result in more innovation and also productivity with less cost, or so many people thought.
Recent studies cited by Harvard Business Review indicated that the prime expectation, that open offices would increase productivity, did not come to fruition. In fact, the opposite result has occurred.Â
Advocates claimed that open offices would facilitate communication. Breaking barriers would make communication convenient.Instead, the most recent research indicates that face to face interactions dropped in some firms by as much as 70 percent.Â
Staff were less likely to desire interaction, choosing instead to use digital communication such as messaging and email. They also developed remarkable avoidance skills, such as acting busy, not making eye contact, and other tactics designed to decrease the chance of an unwanted conversation.
Part of the reason for decreasing direct communication lies in the open officeâs biggest challenge: distractions. Respectful colleagues try to avoid interrupting work or other conversations, turning instead to the less intrusive digital message. This replaced the knock at the office door and restored control over spontaneous communication.
Distractions, however, continue to serve as a serious problem on their own for most workers. Studies show that as many as three out of four office workers who experience them despise the open office. The two biggest complaints come from concerns about lack of privacy and also the inability to maintain concentration.
On average, studies have shown that distraction from focused work does not get fully restored until after over 20 minutes, if at all. When staff must focus to figure out problems or complete projects, losing 20 minutes after every distraction can take a serious toll on productivity. Lost hours can add up and cost the organization essential time and effort.
Almost all workers complain about distractions in the office. Half blame difficulty in concentrating on phone calls or projects as a major problem. Loud conversations serve as a chief source of complaint, but office machine noises and other sounds combine into a cacophony that prevents focus.
Visual distractions have a strong, if less powerful, impact. Even more concerning than the lack of productivity is research showing that open offices may also affect employee health.
Constant exposure to the types of noise typical of an office can create significant health problems and even affect work attendance.
A review of 15 relatively recent studies shows that none of them supported the idea of the open office as beneficial. They concluded that âopen-plan office space is not beneficial to employees' health, with consistent findings of deleterious effects on staff health, wellbeing and productivity.âÂ
Research from Denmark found that open offices produced 62 percent more sick days than traditional plans.
Research revealed both short and long term health problems. Open offices encourage the faster spread of viruses and other communicable pathogens that can create sickness. Even worse, the effects of constant noise and distraction during work tended to raise stress, anxiety, blood pressure and other chronic problems.
Clearly, open office spaces cause employee health issues, yet most companies do not have the resources to fully retrofit their design and return them to a traditional layout.
Fortunately, Zenbooth provides a less costly and more effective solution to the problems of privacy and output in open offices.
As reported in the New York Times, Zenbooth offers a range of products designed to restore privacy and enhance worker focus when needed.
The media outlet Gizmodo had experienced serious problems with its own open office concept. Reporters struggled to keep attention on phone calls, writing, and other important workplace tasks.
They first purchased the Zenbooth Solo. Modeled on the old-style phone booth, it provides an individual with ample privacy to make telephone calls or engage in office work. Volkswagen, Capital One, Lyft, and many others also invested in Zenbooth's private booths that allow workers an opportunity to get away from the chaos.
With the individual booths so popular, Gizmodo also invested in a Duo. This has space for two workers for collaboration, discussion or conference calls. Quiet spaces allow for more substantial conversations, especially those of a confidential business, HR, or personal nature.
For those offices that need larger meeting spaces, Zenbooth offers the Quad. It can seat four to six employees comfortably and quietly. It perfectly fits the need for small meeting and collaboration spaces.
All Zenbooth products are constructed of sturdy American grown maple. They also employ whisper-soft doors, a quiet fan and a design that eliminates almost all typical office noises. Manufactured in California, these products are considered among the best-performing products of their type on the market.Â
Their convenient design means that most can assemble these products in about an hour.Â
Zenbooth products have enhanced office layouts for several years now. Design trends going into 2020 have shown that the versatility and look of their booths lend themselves to the dynamics and aesthetics of modern offices.
Many of the newest offices embrace the idea of diverse spaces and flexibility.They create both collaborative and private environments for different types of work.
Zenboothâs own versatility falls right in line with design expectations. Also, moving the Zenbooth only requires disassembly and reassembly, both of which should take around an hour to complete.
Wood has also made a comeback in office aesthetics, replacing drywall. Not only does wood provide a more sturdy and attractive surface, but sustainably sourced wood also has a lower environmental impact than other products. Since much of the Zenbooth uses responsibly sourced maple in its construction, it meets and often exceeds the expectations of modern designers.
Zenbooth provides your workspace a chance to improve productivity and worker health through privacy. Have questions about our products? Call, message, or email us today to learn more. Our friendly staff will be happy to answer any that you have.
]]>In order to effectively and efficiently work from home, employees need a comfortable workspace that is suitably equipped to accomplish their daily tasks.
Access to the latest technology is a must, and so is a desk that will allow home office workers to sit or stand. The Zenstation from Zenbooth is an electric, height adjustable desk that fits the bill.Â
Forty-one percent of global businesses surveyed by Flexjobs in July 2019 said they already offer some remote work opportunities for employees. At the January 2020 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, hundreds of CEOs expressed support for increasing the opportunity of working from home.Â
Employers late to the work-at-home revolution are now scrambling to adapt as the global response to COVID-19 (coronavirus) strengthens. Within the last couple of weeks, governments worldwide have been forced to take extreme measures to âflatten the curveâ of new infections. Among the steps taken includes the mandating of âsocial distancingâ and the closure of all non-essential businesses.
]]>In order to effectively and efficiently work from home, employees need a comfortable workspace that is suitably equipped to accomplish their daily tasks.
Access to the latest technology is a must, and so is a desk that will allow home office workers to sit or stand. The Zenstation from Zenbooth is an electric, height adjustable desk that fits the bill.Â
Forty-one percent of global businesses surveyed by Flexjobs in July 2019 said they already offer some remote work opportunities for employees. At the January 2020 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, hundreds of CEOs expressed support for increasing the opportunity of working from home.Â
Employers late to the work-at-home revolution are now scrambling to adapt as the global response to COVID-19 (coronavirus) strengthens. Within the last couple of weeks, governments worldwide have been forced to take extreme measures to âflatten the curveâ of new infections. Among the steps taken includes the mandating of âsocial distancingâ and the closure of all non-essential businesses.
Companies unfamiliar with remote working opportunities are facing quite a conundrum: quickly adapt their workforce to work at home, or risk losing business during this unprecedented time. While not all industries can adapt to a work-at-home model (construction, hospitality, for example), most office-based workers can make the transition with the right tools.
Employees who were used to the creature comforts and company-provided tools of their familiar workspaces are adjusting.
Ideally, an at-home office should allow for the same â or increased â level of productivity without taking up valuable living space.
What are some of the most common tools needed for a successful at-home workspace?
In addition to tools and digital access, it is vitally important to have ample room available.
Why stick with a boring corner desk for your at-home workspace? Now is a great time to consider a revolutionary style of desk that is designed to increase productivity, while ensuring the health and well-being of its user.Â
The ZenStation Adjustable Desk from Zenbooth is a perfect fit for remote workers looking for a comfortable sit-to-stand experience. ZenStation is compact, ergonomically flexible, and easy to install in any space.
According to a study published by the Journal of Physical Health and Activity, the health benefits associated with the use of an adjustable desk are numerous. The study outfitted 74 healthy individuals with masks that measured oxygen consumption to determine caloric burn while doing computer work, watching TV, walking on a treadmill and standing.Â
The study determined that subjects burned an average of 80 calories per hour while sitting, which is reflective of the same amount that would be burned while sitting at a desk or computer. When standing, subjects burned an average of 88 calories. The conclusion reached by the researchers is that a standing desk would burn 24 extra calories if used for three hours during the working day.
While standing desks do not contribute to significant weight loss, they do boost overall health in other ways, according to that same study. Converting from a sitting to a standing position after eating a meal can help blood sugar levels â which naturally spike during food consumption â return to normal more quickly than sitting.Â
Standing, rather than sitting, also can reduce shoulder and back pain commonly associated with sitting at a desk, especially while using a computer.
Using a standing desk also is attributed to improving heart health. A pioneering study conducted in 1953 found that standing while working is better for overall heart health. The study determined that bus conductors who stood all day for their jobs reduced their risk of heart disease-related deaths by half as compared with their colleagues who drove buses.
To maximize the benefits of using a convertible work surface like the ZenStation Adjustable Desk, change the amount of time you spend sitting versus standing in small increments each day.Â
Suddenly going from sitting while working 100 percent of the time, to standing for a significant portion of the workday, can cause back, foot, and joint pain. Zenbooth recommends easing into the standing desk option until you find a balance between sitting and standing that works best for your body.
Psychologically speaking, there are mental health perks to remote working. A 2018 Flexjobs survey found that 97 percent of respondents believed working remotely would have a positive impact on their quality of life. The respondents said working from home reduces stress levels and eliminates distractions from work colleagues, improving their ability to focus and be more productive.
In addition to the health benefits of using a ZenStation Adjustable Desk, recent studies support findings that suggest remote workers increase their overall productivity by the equivalent of a full dayâs work. The two-year study, conducted by Stanford professor Nicholas Bloom, contains definitive data that suggests remote workers take shorter breaks, have fewer sick days, and take less time off.
The most important feature of the ZenStation is its versatility. With the ZenStation, remote workers can:
Remote workers who have dedicated, quiet spaces in their homes for an office will enjoy the versatility and value of including the ZenStation.
Need a little more privacy while working from home? In addition to the ZenStation, Zenbooth also offers enclosed booths with adjustable desk space. All booths are 100 percent soundproof and are designed with accessibility in mind. Check out all of the available Zenbooth options here.
Are you ready to incorporate a ZenStation or other Zenbooth products into your remote workspace? Zenbooth makes it easy to select, finance, and receive any product in as little as 10 days. All goods come with a 30-day return period. Call us today or order online for fast, free delivery.
]]>These advantages, however, have a flip side. Constant accessibility brings frequent interruptions, overheard phone conversations and background noise. Employees cannot control their environment, and their productivity and health suffer.
The open office features that proponents love the most have turned out to be headaches for employees. Researchers have found that an open office actually discourages collaboration and productivity. Studies show that drawbacks to working in an open office include
These advantages, however, have a flip side. Constant accessibility brings frequent interruptions, overheard phone conversations and background noise. Employees cannot control their environment, and their productivity and health suffer.
The open office features that proponents love the most have turned out to be headaches for employees. Researchers have found that an open office actually discourages collaboration and productivity. Studies show that drawbacks to working in an open office include
It may be easy to start a conversation or get a colleagueâs attention in an open office. The sensory overload of multiple conversations, however, can be counterproductive.Â
A study by the IPSOS and Steelcase shows that in the workplace, workers value the ability to concentrate and work without interruption. Only 11 percent of the workers surveyed were satisfied with their office style, and those workers were the most engaged. The ability to choose where to work in the office was another important factor in overall satisfaction.
Whether itâs collaboration or casual conversation, the steady stream of sound can be frustrating when youâre trying to concentrate. Researchers from the University of Sydney found that noise is the most common complaint among office workers. When asked about working conditions, 30 percent of workers in open offices cited noise as the greatest problem, while only 10 percent cited cleanliness as an issue.Â
Half of all partitionless workers and 60 percent of open office workers cited noise as the cause of some level of annoyance.
Noise is the most obvious problem in an open office, but shrinking personal space and the lack of privacy also create distractions. The amount of personal space has dramatically decreased with this new design.Â
In the 1970s, the average individual worker had 500 square feet of workspace. By 2012, that space had dropped to 176 square feet. Panels have dropped from 5 to 6 feet to 4 feet or no panels at all. Itâs simply human nature to look up when someone walks past your desk, so no wonder itâs extremely hard to concentrate in an open office layout.
Coworkers may find it convenient to chat in these type of workplaces, but the topic of conversation is not necessarily work-related. In a casual, spontaneous environment, people may talk about sports or their plans for the holidays. When itâs time to brainstorm or work on a project, coworkers will likely reserve a conference room for privacy and seclusion.
The open office allows colleagues to ask each other questions without leaving their chairs. This level of accessibility comes at a high price, according to researchers. A study by the University of California at Irvine and Humboldt University found that just 20 minutes of interrupted work led to increased stress and frustration.
The open office plan, in spite of its drawbacks, has some advantages. The wide open space allows flexibility and a variety of solutions to counterract the distractions and interruptions. For example, comfortable furniture and the addition of breakout spaces gives workers a choice.Â
With ingenuity and creativity, you and your team can create an âagile workspaceâ that promotes flexibility and balance. Employees and employers can take steps toward a more balanced work environment, including
If you find your open office too distracting, you donât have to suffer in silence until your frustrations boil over. You and your colleagues can come up with ideas to reduce noise and distractions. For example, team members could agree to whisper when a coworker is using the phone. Try creating a buddy system so that when one person needs quiet, their âbuddyâ can politely let the rest of the team know.
Mutual understanding is vital among team members, because noise levels that do not bother some workers may bother others. A plan for cooperation will encourage team members to be mindful of these differences and consider the needs of their colleagues.
Each person has his or her comfort level and need for privacy and quiet. Some people need absolute silence in order to concentrate, while others can focus on their work in a noisy, bustling office.Â
The key is to find a balance between accessibility and personal space. Even in an open office, you can usually create a quiet zone. Try taking your laptop to an empty conference room or a partially hidden corner.
You may be able to create a semi-private area within the open office. Try moving some chairs or tables close together or place a chair with its back against a wall. The addition of comfortable couches or overstuffed chairs can separate a breakout area from the rest of the office.
If you work in an open office, it may help to leave altogether to escape the distractions. Perhaps a local library or cafĂŠ would be the perfect spot for a few hours. Your supervisor may let you work there temporarily if you ask permission.
Creating a comfortable workspace can be as simple as tuning out the activity that surrounds you. A set of noise-cancelling earbuds shuts out surrounding conversations and sends a signal that you donât want to be disturbed. Experiment with different sounds, such as white noise, rainfall or soft jazz, until you find the sound that lets you focus on your work.Â
You can even have an understanding with your colleagues that two earbuds in means âdo not disturb,â while one earbud in and one out means âask before you interrupt me.â
If earbuds donât work for you, try adding a temporary partition. When you need to block out distractions, place foam boards around your desk. The boards should be high enough to block the view of your workspace. When you are available for conversation, remove the boards.
The frustrations of an open office can make workers long for the days of enclosed work areas with doors. Your company can have the best of both worlds when you add a Zenbooth office pod. When an employee needs privacy or a team needs to collaborate on a project, Zenbooth provides a convenient, quiet conference space. Some models are ideal for one or two people, while our largest model has room for up to six workers.
Our office pods are movable and easy to assemble. When you need a new conference room, you wonât have to remodel your office. Zenbooths features include electrical interface, motion-activated ventilation and dimmable lighting.Â
Electric, movable desks add comfort and flexibility. Each booth is insulated with recycled denim and acoustic felt panels so that conversations will not be overheard outside the booth. Whether an individual employee needs to make a confidential phone call or a team needs a brainstorming session, our booths help create an agile workspace.
Working in an open office can bring more frustration than collaboration. Productivity, engagement and employee health frequently suffer as distractions and stress levels rise. Employees and teams donât have to be at the mercy of their workspace.Â
Creative use of space, furniture and time can turn a stressful open office into a flexible workplace.Â
]]>In the U.S., 5 million employees work from home at least occasionally; this figure makes up about 3.6 percent of the American workforce. 3.6 percent may not seem like much, but it represents a 173 percent increase from 2005 to 2018.
Advancements in web-based technologies such as cloud computing and telecommunication are some of the main factors fueling work-from-home trends in many industries. Both employers and employees are also growing more appreciative of progressive workplace practices and policies.
Some of the main disadvantages when working from home are distractions, poor work-life balance, and low productivity. These can be solved by designating a modern workstation or home office.Â
But this creates another problem. Most of us live in houses that can't accommodate a generously-spaced office. Laying out a workspace in an already congested house or apartment calls for some creativity; that's where the new ZenStation comes in.
]]>In the U.S., 5 million employees work from home at least occasionally; this figure makes up about 3.6 percent of the American workforce. 3.6 percent may not seem like much, but it represents a 173 percent increase from 2005 to 2018.
Advancements in web-based technologies such as cloud computing and telecommunication are some of the main factors fueling work-from-home trends in many industries. Both employers and employees are also growing more appreciative of progressive workplace practices and policies.
Some of the main disadvantages when working from home are distractions, poor work-life balance, and low productivity. These can be solved by designating a modern workstation or home office.Â
But this creates another problem. Most of us live in houses that can't accommodate a generously-spaced office. Laying out a workspace in an already congested house or apartment calls for some creativity; that's where the new ZenStation comes in.
The ZenStation is an adjustable, movable desk designed for the home-based worker looking for an elegantly simple alternative to the traditional office desk. The desk's simple construction features of an electrically-adjustable (height-wise) metal frame and a top that's made from locally-sourced, recycled wood.
Are you a full-time home-based worker? Do you like to work from the comfort of your home occasionally, or are you thinking about ditching the daily commute and working completely remotely?Â
If so, here are five attractive reasons why you should consider getting a ZenStation for your home office.
A recent study found that office workers are among the most sedentary segment of the modern workforce. The 146 desk-based workers who participated in this survey spent between 70 and 85 percent of their work time sitting down. Alarmingly, extended, unbroken sitting durations of more than 30 minutes accounted for more than a third of this time.Â
The researchers found that prolonged uninterrupted sitting among office workers had negative impacts on essential cardiometabolic indicators such as blood pressure, blood sugar and insulin levels, and vigor.
In the health-centric world we live in today, such studies prove the direct relationship between comfort and good health, especially in work environments, which is where most people spend the majority of their time. Ergonomic office furniture is no longer a choice for workers slaving behind a desk all day but a necessity. Comfortable or ergonomic desks can help alleviate neck and back pains, fatigue, and long-term musculoskeletal disorders.
Sit-stand desks (SSD) have become a popular solution to quell the sedentary behavior of office workers. The idea of SSD is that the worker alternates between sitting and standing at least twice every hour. This practice improves blood flow and wades off exhaustion.
The ZenStation is designed with this ergonomic flexibility in mind. Its desktop can be raised anywhere from 29.5" and 49.3" by the push of a button. The desk has three programmable memory settings, so you only have to set your most comfortable height positions once.Â
With these features, you can instantly and effortlessly alternate between sitting and standing while remaining focused on the work at hand.
When setting up a home office, space management can be a massive headache, especially if you're furnishing the place with traditional office furniture designed for larger layouts.Â
Many home-based office workers oend up using insufficient desks in the name of space economy. Apart from discomfort, the last thing you want is a desk that feels claustrophobic.
Although the ZenStation is designed for efficient space usage, it is not what youâd call small. The desktop measures 46â long and 26â wide. This 1196 square-inch real estate is more than adequate for the average office worker.Â
There is enough space on the desk for a wide desktop display, keyboard, writing space, and lunch. Whatâs more, the desk is lightweight, so you can easily move it to any location in the room.
The designers have taken a minimalistic approach to constructing both the desktop and its support frame. The desk stands on just two beams of a hollow metal frame, and all the fittings and cables are hidden within the structure itself. Frankly, the entire design seams featureless until you realize the ZenStation is a rigid electric desk that can support up to 176 lbs.
There is a beauty and unique appeal that comes from stripping designs down to their very essentials without compromising quality and functionality. Minimalism, even in every-day objects such as furniture, promotes clarity of the mind and a sense of purpose, and is also visually-friendly. In a way, working with neat tools creates a ripple effect that motivates organization and neatness in one's work.
Having a neat and visually pleasing office space at home that is nothing like any cooperate office also provides a much-needed break from the monotonous workplace environment.
Never underestimate the impact that your work environment has on your overall productivity. A survey identified workplace distractions as one of the leading productivity killers in a conventional office environment. 54 percent of high-performing employees find their workplaces too distracting to fully realize their potential.
With a dedicated workstation at home, you can stay away from both home and office disruptions. You also get to set your own work hours and schedule, allowing you to control and utilize your most productive time of day (or night). Plus, you can always customize or decorate your private workspace with themes or features that put you in a work-focused mindset.
It might surprise you to learn that small personalization touches, such as placing a plant or a painting on your desk, can significantly improve your productivity. Also, factors like the deskâs location, lighting, and orientation play a part in the level of productivity and focus. Luckily, with a versatile and flexible office desk, you can at least control most of these productivity factors.
Besides the physical health benefits, a personal home desk can also improve your mental and emotional health profoundly. For starters, you'll be able to make critical choices that enhance your work-life balance. The level of flexibility and freedom associated with a dedicated home-based workstation should minimize the chances of worker burnout by reducing work-related stresses.
Mental and emotional health is just as important as physical health in a work environment. Employers usually go to great lengths to ensure their workers maintain mental and emotional stability. Poor psychological health can have far-reaching ramifications in an individual's work performance, and can negatively influence a person's behavior, creativity, focus, and motivation for work.
A home-based workspace provides a serene environment free of stressful stimuli. Psychological wellness not only determines work productivity but can also affect personal and professional relationships. In addition, severe psychological conditions can manifest as physical symptoms such as obesity and heart problems.
More and more organizations are adopting and even encouraging work-from-home policies. Many employers now realize that having remote workers saves operational costs and also improves workers' morale, subsequently boosting productivity.Â
This arrangement is also advantageous to the home-based workers since they get a highly flexible work environment and donât have to put up with the daily commute. So, it's a win-win for both the employers and employees.
There is also a growing number of entrepreneurs and contractors who prefer to work from home instead of renting out office spaces. This is why the ZenStation makes so much sense in the modern workplace landscape.
Although the ZenStation is aimed at home offices, it can still be used in a conventional office. Its size and design make it ideal for temporally office workers and those with few office tasks. So instead of setting up a traditional desk that only takes up space and goes unused most of the time, itâs more practical to use a smaller, convenient desk.
Get your electric adjustable desk today from Zenbooth and bring comfort and elegance to your home-office life. Weâll deliver the ZenStation to your doorstep within seven days. And if you donât like it, you can have us collect it for free within 30 days.
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