Everyone responds to certain noises differently. Some people find music distracting, whilst for others, it helps them to focus and stay in the zone. Noises don’t have to be loud or typically ‘annoying’ to distract someone. Something as simple as the coffee machine might just do it. Keith from Accounts chewing loudly will drive any sane person to distraction. More manageable noises such as telephones, video calls, laptop notifications, keyboards, alarms, printers, doors, conversations and microwaves should all be considered when designing a workspace.