Noisy coworkers can be a part of everyone's working life. In some instances a kind request to keep the noise down will do the trick; in others, this route won't do any good. Oftentimes assistance from others can be very helpful. Following these simple rules can help you cope with these noisy coworkers.

Wear Headphones - Sound canceling headphones are good for this - but they're also usually rather costly. There are some far less costly and low-tech choices out there, however. Over-ear, meaning big ones which cover the ears, or in-ear buds generally block out many interruptions, and the right music could be just the thing to lower one's stress levels or to help one to focus. Music with lyrics can be very distracting, however, so this idea might not be ideal for you.

Get a personal white noise machine - There is a big variety of these products to help one obtain speech privacy in an open office. They range from really cheap CDs which loop a white noise soundtrack to a high quality, multi channel product made to accommodate buildings and offices. The best answer for you depends partly upon how much space you wish to treat. Find a Quiet Space - Many offices have unused conference rooms, which make very good spots if you need to escape from your office banter and focus on your work.

Discuss any concerns in a meeting with a supervisor, offering some constructive ideas - The creation of a team or an office-wide noise management policy will usually be very effective and helpful. But take care to avoid using a meeting to gripe about coworkers, since this isn't the right forum for that and it might cost you your credibility. Bear in mind that you are concerned for your team and trying to make a work environment that is more productive and comfortable for everyone. Griping will only make the situation sound like a personal one.

Share your feelings with the noisy coworker. This won't be easy, and you ought to think it through first. Ask to speak to him or her privately. Be direct, but be tactful-remember, you have to work with the person. Whatever you do, don't go around making snide remarks about this person in front of others. This type of approach usually only offends noisy coworkers and doesn't help at all.

Most importantly, don't just sit there and take it. There are more things in the trade than simply a computer or a telephone, the environment and workspace that you work in are also part of the equation. Taking care to address speech privacy in an open office early on can stop a lot of stress in the future.