In an open-plan office, use earplugs or find a quiet room for work that needs memory

Moderate value
Evidence B
Saves time
Costs a little
Takes minutes
No willpower

In plain words

When background noise rose from 39 decibels to 51 decibels, people remembered fewer words, got more tired and felt less like working. During breaks, watching a nature film with sound restored energy better than continuing to listen to office noise.

Cost: Earplugs cost a few dozen CNY. Booking a quiet meeting room takes a little time.
What you get: Students worked in a simulated open-plan office. When background noise rose from 39 decibels to 51 decibels (dB, LAeq), they remembered fewer words, rated themselves more fatigued and felt less like working. During breaks, watching a nature film with sound pulled their energy ratings back up better than listening only to river sounds or to office noise.
Notes: This is one lab study. The most disruptive part of noise is speech you can make out. White-noise headphones help with this, but this study did not test headphones.
Evidence grade: B : Supported by research but without a precise number, or based on small or single studies.
Sources: Jahncke, Hygge, Halin, Green & Dimberg (2011). Open-plan office noise: Cognitive performance and restoration. Journal of Environmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2011.07.002

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 3, tip 12. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer