It’s noisy out there, and almost everywhere. There used to be various establishments that cultivated conversations- certain bars and restaurants that had a great vibe where you could actually hear yourself talk.
Many of those places are gone- or no longer the same: screens of various sizes have been put in place. This means that while sitting at the bar, at least, you are forced to assimilate messages coming from one or more screens. This definitely changes the energy of these places.
Adding to this, it is common to have to listen to other people’s conversations in the street (not talking to a person) on their phone, or more invasively, people who insist on taking phone calls when riding in an elevator with you.
This intrusion in your personal space is increasing, and makes finding places to be quiet even more challenging. And with the expectation to respond quickly to texts and emails, it means that loads of information are hurled at you too. To balance all this out, it is essential to find the time and space to just BE QUIET.