Blog posts tagged creativity

Can the sounds of a cafe increase your creativity?

Ok, it's time to get creative! You need ideas, and you need them fast.

But wait. If you're working in an open plan office then it's just too noisy to concentrate on the creative process. And if you retreat into a silent meeting room or opt to work from home then it's far too quiet to come up with those super-imaginative ideas.

A simulated cafe

No worries. I know what you need: the ambient sounds of a cafe, without the hassle of actually having to go to a cafe.

Let me introduce Coffitivity, a website that plays the ambient sounds of a bustling coffee shop through your computer speakers or headphones.

Calm and commotion

The creators of Coffitivity claim 'the mix of calm and commotion in an environment like a coffee house is proven to be just what you need to get those creative juices flowing'. They even provide some research to back up their claims.

Does it work? Give it a go and see for yourself. If you don't fancy a simulated coffee shop experience, you could always try white noise, nature sounds or, er, 24 uninterrupted hours of ambient sound from Star Trek.

Sponsored links:

• Four ways to stay focused while you work
• Mobile working: the tasks I save for the train
• Finding alternative places to work