Physical workspace factors don't just feel unpleasant — they measurably raise or lower how long attention can be sustained before it fragments.
fatigue(t+1) = fatigue(t) + stressor*dt - recovery*break_rate
- Focus-task nodes — concurrent tasks competing for sustained attention in the workspace.
- Distraction connectivity — how easily noise/interruptions propagate between task nodes.
- Environmental stressor level — combined effect of poor lighting, noise and clutter on cognitive fatigue.
- Recovery-break rate — how often restorative breaks reset accumulated fatigue.
Office redesigns that cut ambient noise and add scheduled micro-breaks measurably raise sustained-attention scores — this is the mechanism behind that effect.