Constant noise is a burden that goes unnoticed
Instead of being able to concentrate fully, you are constantly filtering out environmental stimuli, fighting distractions and refocusing your attention.
It's subtle, but over time the effect grows. Deep work becomes shorter, thinking becomes more reactive and it becomes harder to maintain clarity.
This is not just a question of productivity, but of the quality of thinking.
Productivity needs the right cognitive conditions
Many organisations are beginning to realise that productivity is not just about tools, processes or culture. It also depends on cognitive conditions.
In practice, this often leads to a simple insight: people need to have access to spaces where they can work without interruption when they need to.