Laminar Work Spaces

The Cost of Distraction

In 2005, researcher Gloria Mark at UC Irvine discovered something startling: after being interrupted, it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to return to the original task. In today's open-plan offices and bustling coffee shops, these interruptions are constant — a colleague's question, a notification ping, the barista calling your name.

What Is Deep Work?

Cal Newport coined the term "deep work" to describe professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.

The opposite — "shallow work" — consists of non-cognitively demanding, logistical-style tasks, often performed while distracted. Think email, most meetings, and scrolling through Slack.

The Neuroscience Behind Focus

When you enter a state of deep focus, your brain activates the prefrontal cortex — the region responsible for complex thinking, planning, and decision-making. This state requires:

Minimal sensory interruption — your brain can only process so much input
Sustained attention — it takes 15-20 minutes to reach peak focus
Reduced context-switching — every switch has a cognitive cost

Why Acoustics Matter

Sound is one of the most disruptive environmental factors for concentration. Research published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America found that speech intelligibility is the primary driver of distraction — when you can understand what someone is saying, your brain involuntarily processes it.

This is why Laminar workspaces are engineered with multi-layer sound insulation. We don't just reduce volume — we reduce speech intelligibility to near zero, creating a cocoon of productive silence.

Creating Your Deep Work Practice

Schedule deep work blocks — treat them as non-negotiable appointments
Choose your environment — find spaces designed for focus, not just convenience
Eliminate digital distractions — use app blockers during deep work sessions
Start with 90-minute blocks — this aligns with your brain's natural ultradian rhythm

The Laminar Approach

At Laminar Work Spaces, we've designed every element of our workspaces around these principles. From the acoustic engineering to the lighting design, every detail serves one purpose: helping you reach and maintain your deepest state of focus.