Noise and Attention: How the Environment Affects Our Efficiency

Imagine that you are working on an important task and there's construction noise outside. What do you do first?

I look outside and observe what is happening.
I grit my teeth and try to focus further.
I get up and look for a place where it is quiet.
I will start to get irritated, but I won't do anything about it.
I'll turn on some music to drown out the noise.

What type of environment suits you best for concentrating?

A room with a soft buzz and indistinct movement of people.
Absolute silence, without any stimuli.
Nature - a forest, a park, or the sound of a river.
A place with music that puts me in the mood.
It depends on the task – I change the environment as needed.

How do you react when someone interrupts you while you're in the middle of working?

I will accept it with a smile, the conversation doesn't bother me.
It unsettles me and I can't get back to work for a while.
I will get upset, but I won't say anything.
I will interrupt him and politely ask him to wait.
I will change the location or time of work so that it doesn't happen again.

Which image is closest to you when you hear the word "attention"?

A beam of light in a dark room.
A clockwork mechanism with delicate components.
A child who is learning something new.
Archer just before the shot.
A whirl of thoughts and ideas swirling around me.

Imagine that you have a day off, but your neighbors are having a loud party. How do you feel?

I will take my headphones and adapt.
I feel frustration and anger that I don't have peace.
I will use the time for something that doesn't require concentration.
I will go away - for a walk or to a café.
I am trying to understand that they have the right to celebrate, although it doesn't suit me.

Which of these sounds makes you the most nervous?

Irregular dripping of water.
Continuous sound of the air conditioning.
An argument or a conversation behind closed doors.
The phone ringing without an answer.
Beeping of devices or electronics.

How do you usually organize your workspace?

Everything has its place, order helps me concentrate.
I surround myself with objects that inspire me.
I don't care about the arrangement, I adapt.
Minimalistically – the less, the better.
I have a "creative chaos" that only I understand.

What helps you when you can't concentrate?

A short walk or physical activity.
Change of role or approach to work.
Music or sounds of nature.
Complete silence and isolation.
I will make a list to organize my thoughts.

How do you perceive multitasking (doing multiple things at once)?

It is a natural part of my job.
It reduces my efficiency; I prefer to do things one at a time.
It depends on the type of tasks – some can be combined.
It's challenging, but I often have no choice.
I avoid him – I need to dive into one thing.

Which of the following statements best describes you?

I need an outer room to find the inner one.
My thoughts are loud even in silence.
On the outside, I can be calm, even though it's boiling inside.
I can function in chaos, but I pay for it later.
Silence sometimes feels unnatural or empty to me.

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