Dear Jacquelyn,

I live in an apartment complex with about 30 units and I am now working from home. With more people hunkered down at home, what are some polite ways apartment-dwellers can handle noise levels?

Dear Reader,

With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic stay-at-home mandates, people are spending most of their time at home. When you’re in an apartment building, this is the time to be especially mindful of neighbor etiquette.

It’s important to have a heightened awareness of what you’re doing and how it affects those around you. Show understanding and realize everyone is learning to adjust to the new normal.

Anyone living in an apartment complex should expect some level of noise.

But these days there will be more noise in the building since so many people are working from home and children are cooped up all day. The noise issue is a give-and-take and it’s making us more aware of all our actions.

Take a moment and check your own noise levels. To self-test, turn on music, close your door, and go into your hallway. If you can hear the music, it’s too loud.

You might also love to start your day with an early-morning workout, but it may present a problem when your floor is someone else’s ceiling. Respecting quiet hours, typically 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays, is ideal.

Apartment-dwellers do not often know their neighbors. If you haven’t already, use this opportunity to chat with neighbors (from the minimum six-foot physical-distancing guideline) and commiserate about their social isolation. It will help to connect and get a better understanding of each other’s situation.

In one month’s time, the pandemic has rewritten the book on social etiquette. This is going to be a time where we all have to pull together as a community. And it starts with our neighbors.

Respectfully Yours,

Jacquelyn

Have a question? Email: jacquelyn@ptd.net. Jacquelyn Youst is owner of the Pennsylvania Academy of Protocol, specializing in etiquette training. She is on the board of directors of the National Civility Foundation.

All Rights Reserved &Copy; 2020 Jacquelyn Youst