How office distractions lower productivity – and how SONTE film helps you stay focused

Office distractions – the invisible thieves of productivity

You’re working on an important project, but something keeps pulling your attention away. Behind the glass wall, someone is gesturing during a conversation, colleagues rush past you, and a loud meeting is taking place in the background. Even if you try to ignore these distractions, your brain constantly registers them, making it harder to concentrate. Modern open-plan offices and glass-walled meeting rooms may look impressive, but do they actually support productivity?

In this article, we’ll explore the biggest workplace distractions and see how SONTE film helps eliminate them—allowing you to focus on what truly matters.

The biggest distractions in modern offices

Office spaces are designed with openness and collaboration in mind. Glass walls, transparent partitions, and open-plan layouts create a sleek, modern look. But do they actually support concentration? It turns out that the very elements meant to improve communication often become the biggest sources of distraction.

Movement and visual stimuli – your attention is never fully yours

When working in a glass office or conference room, you’re never completely isolated from your surroundings. Every movement behind the glass – colleagues walking by, people gesturing in the background, or technicians handling maintenance – subconsciously draws your gaze. Even if you try to ignore it, your brain automatically processes these stimuli, interrupting your train of thought.

The result? Every unintentional glance at what’s happening outside the glass makes you lose focus, and you need extra time to regain your concentration.

Lack of privacy – the office is not an aquarium

Working in glass-walled conference rooms or offices often means that instead of focusing on the meeting, you’re constantly aware that others might be watching. Have you ever had an important conversation while noticing someone gesturing behind the glass or waiting for you to finish? Situations like these not only break your concentration but also affect your comfort and ease of communication.

In open-plan offices, the issue is even greater. Colleagues might glance at your screen, and even if they don’t do it intentionally, just knowing that others are around can create discomfort and make it harder to focus on demanding tasks.

Video conferences – background chaos undermines professionalism

Hybrid work has made video conferences a daily routine. Unfortunately, glass partitions don’t help when the busy office environment unfolds behind you. People walking by, colleagues visible in the background, or screens reflecting off the glass can distract meeting participants, making the entire call seem less professional.

The consequences? Difficulty focusing, reduced communication quality, and unnecessary repetitions that make meetings longer than they need to be.

The cost of distractions – what do we really lose?

Every time you lose focus at work, it costs more than you might think. Studies show that after each distraction, the brain needs an average of 23 minutes to regain full concentration. That means if you get interrupted three times a day, you’re losing almost 1.5 hours of productive time.

Over the course of a week, that adds up to more than 6 hours, and in a year, it equals nearly 7 weeks wasted on constantly trying to refocus. That’s time that could be spent completing key projects, developing professionally, or simply leaving work earlier.

Office distractions not only steal time but also increase stress and frustration. The harder it is to concentrate, the more tasks pile up, leading to late evenings spent catching up instead of unwinding.

Can we really afford such a loss? The good news is that there are effective ways to minimize distractions—and one of them is SONTE smart film, which helps you regain control over your workspace by eliminating unnecessary disruptions.

SONTE as a solution to the problem

Visual distractions are not something we have to accept—they can be effectively eliminated, and SONTE smart film is the perfect solution. With its advanced liquid crystal technology, it transforms glass offices, conference rooms, and open spaces into more functional environments, allowing employees to work in complete focus whenever they need it.

How does SONTE film work?

SONTE smart film is based on PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) technology, where liquid crystals change their alignment under an electric current.

• When turned on – the glass remains transparent, allowing for an open space and natural light flow.
• When turned off – it becomes frosted, blocking visibility and eliminating visual distractions.

The transition between these modes is instant, and control is effortless, using an app, remote control, or a standard wall switch.

What do you gain with SONTE film?

• Increased productivity – fewer distractions mean better focus and efficiency.
• Comfortable meetings – the frosted surface ensures privacy in conference rooms, eliminating unnecessary visual stimuli.
• Better working conditions in open spaces – create private focus zones when needed.
• More natural light without blinds or curtains – a bright, modern office without heavy window coverings.
• Aesthetic and prestige – SONTE film enhances both the functionality and elegance of your workspace.

What’s more, SONTE film supports three key privacy mechanisms, which, according to Steelcase research, improve comfort and work efficiency:

• Visual – blocks unwanted visual stimuli, eliminating unnecessary distractions.
• Territorial – allows employees to better control their workspace.
• Indirect acoustic – by reducing visual stimuli, it helps to ignore background noise more effectively.

With SONTE, the office not only maintains its modern look but also finally functions the way employees need it to—free from unnecessary disruptions, on their terms.

Time for a change – optimize your workspace

Office distractions cost you valuable time and energy every day. SONTE film helps eliminate them, providing privacy, better working conditions, and full control over your environment—without compromising modern office design. If you want to work more efficiently and comfortably, now is the time to make a change.

Discover how SONTE can transform your space – contact us today!

📞 +48 573 569 713
📩 hello@sonte.eu