Countermeasures

1. MP3 player loaded with hours of music
2. Over-ear headphones with dynamic bass boost
3. Making sure MP3 player is recharged first thing in the morning
4. Placing my chair so that I face away from anyone who may enter the work area
5. Purchasing snacks first thing in the morning when the path of least resistance is most likely available
6. Timing breaks so as to slip between clusters of co-worker activity
7. Timing lunch to coincide with periods of breakroom downtime
8. Minimizing eye contact with others
9. Minimizing daily greetings to one word: hey
10. Talking only with immediate team members; see #4 through #8 when dealing with non-team members
11. Sitting and talking with only immediate team members during any company functions
12. Timing arrival to and departure from the office so that no one sees me
13. If caught during a co-worker surge to or from the office, play with cell phone as if checking something even though it’s not a smartphone
14. Adjusting walking pace to escape co-worker surge; pretend I’m late to son’s baseball game even though I don’t have a son
15. Telling co-workers you’re just not into being social (highly effective)
16. Being prepared for everyone to respect your personal space way too much; see #1 through #15