I use earplugs when doing work in any environment that is not quiet. What's nice about earplugs is (1) it seems to cut off only some 'existentential layer' of

I use earplugs when doing work in any environment that is not quiet. What's nice about earplugs is (1) it seems to cut off only some 'existentential layer' of sound that I find inhibits focus and (2) your hearing adjusts; you can still hear virtually everything happening around you. Being in the city, I find myself actually sporting ear plugs virtually everywhere I go .. There's just too much noise.