BY: Adrian Smith
Figuring out a way to work from home after following a comfortable routine throughout university was challenging. The environment felt different. I found a quiet room wasn’t enough for long stretches of concentrated writing. I needed a whole new schedule, seeing as classes and assignments didn’t cut into my day anymore, perhaps a new space entirely.
Ronald Kellogg, professor and chairman of psychology at the University of Missouri-Rolla, investigates the cognitive science behind work environments in his book The Psychology of Writing. Kellogg’s research examines how daily behavior rituals, work schedules and environments affect a person’s productivity while performing their tasks. He sheds light on how “the room, time of day, or ritual selected for working may enable or even induce intense concentration, or a favorable motivational or emotional state.”
But Kellogg’s studies don’t pertain solely to writing. His discoveries can be applied to any form of work that involves long sittings and tedious, thoughtful application of the mind onto a sheet or screen in front of you. These are some of the aspects Kellogg argues can improve or deter your psychological state while working.
Background Noise
The psychologist does research on the role of background noise and the extent to which it can be productive or distracting for someone trying to work. His studies reveal that high intensity noise (exceeding about 95 decibels) is disruptive when carrying out complicated tasks requiring concentrated thought. This means work such as writing, editing, research or calculations are slowed down by background noises, and should therefore be avoided. Conversely, Kellogg’s research shows background noise can actually be of use for performance on simple, mindless tasks. The sporadic sounds keep you alert while mechanically working on things that may otherwise have you nodding off.
Duration of Work Period
Kellogg recommends working for 1-3 hour stretches before allowing yourself a break. This is most conducive to sharp, productive work, he stresses, and touches on the importance of this form of scheduling for writers, athletes and musicians, in particular.
The Role of Anxiety
The University of Missouri-Rolla professor points out how the degree of difficulty in performing your task may cause you to feel as if your skills are not suitable to complete the work successfully. This, of course, raises anxiety levels—causing one to feel irritable and bothersome during the work. Kellogg’s studies lead him to believe that those dealing with anxiety are more likely to feel uncomfortable in noisy environments than those who do not deal with it so heavily. That said, it’s best to find the quietest place possible when working if you find you quickly become uneasy, somewhere with less chance of erratic, distracting noises so you feel more at ease stepping into the work and stay focused once you get going. Kellogg argues what’s important though is your own subjective requirement on how to preserve that initial state of workflow.
Physical Environment
Kellogg cites cognitive cueing as the function of a perfect study environment. He notes the ideal workspace “cultivates an environment that cues the desired behavior.” In psychology, this is referred to as ‘encoding specificity,’ a term coined by Endel Tulving and Donald M. Thomson to describe the framework for understanding how contextual information affects memory.
The encoding specificity principle argues that memory is improved when the information available during encoding is also ready for retrieval. In his book Kellogg focuses on its importance for writers, claiming that “the abstract ideas, images, plans, tentative sentences, feelings and other personal symbols that represent the knowledge needed to construct a text are associated with the place and time of the writing environment.” He points out that associations are strongest when the writer takes part in few, if any, unrelated activities within the working environment. The creative space is meant to serve as a retrieval cue for the relevant knowledge to seep into your awareness, and when this happens, ideas pop into the consciousness.
Circadian Rhythms
Circadian rhythms are the built-in 24-hour cycles in the physiological processes of humans, animals, plants and fungi. They help coordinate our behavior within the natural changes of the day and night cycle. Kellogg cites a study from 1985 that found intellectual tasks are best suited for the morning, whereas motor tasks work better in the afternoon. Tackling any writing or thoughtful work early in the morning is best to maintain a stride to your day. After that, any sort of physical activity is welcome, just to give yourself some mental rest.
Sleep
Kellogg’s studies also show that using the bedroom as a space dedicated only for sleep maximizes the brain’s ability to enter a state of rest when it’s time for bed. He explains how our brains cue that it’s time for rest each night just by entering that environment, a strategy similar to treating insomnia.
The psychologist’s studies are helpful for anyone trying to establish a routine that adheres to their personal working habits and tendencies. Check out Kellogg’s The Psychology of Writing next time you find yourself in need of a more productive structure.
