More than 70 percent of today’s employees work in open office spaces. The amount of space per employee shrank from 500 square feet in the 1970s to 200 square feet in 2010.

Excessive stimulation seems to impede learning, as do interruptions. The simple act of being interrupted is one of the greatest barriers to productivity.

Create office settings that are more conducive to getting work done. People should be free to circulate and interact, yet also free to disappear into their own private workspaces.

Some companies are starting to understand the value of silence and solitude by creating open plans that offer a mix of solo workspaces, quiet zones and casual meeting areas. Flextime and work-from-home schedules offer other ways to encourage focus and concentration.