[ljf]

I used to find noise annoying in the pre-covid days, but I could cope with it.

Then I worked remotely, and while the silence was deafening for the first week or so, I grew to love it, and the focus it gives me.

Now I am back in the office some days a week, and it is worse than ever, in part as I've tasted what working in silence does for me. But mainly as non in post-covid times everyone takes their meetings at their desks.

Sitting near me today was a team of 5 people all on a call together from their desks, as one person was remote.

In the old days they would have grabbed a meeting room to run that call, but now everyone does it from their desks.

The noise is so annoying, and makes my remote days all the sweeter. Wearing noise cancelling headphones all day hurts my ears and head, plus gives me sweaty ears - which leads to more wax which leads to increased tinnitus for me. As someone with ADHD, tinnitus can really mess with my day.