Aside from sounds and visual elements, another factor that deeply affects work productivity is the smell. If you're in an environment where the smell is far from pleasant, chances are you wouldn't be in your full capacity when working. Don't grab the air freshener, though. This will only make things worse because the slight chemical smell is an even bigger distraction. Instead, go to the local greenhouse and purchase an herb plant- preferably one with a strong smell. Put it beside the office desk and you should get that clean, fresh smell of the outdoors all day long. Some of the best plants for this job are mint, basil, rosemary and lavender
Anthony de Mello, Awareness Conversations with the Masters
A man and his wife went to visit friends in another part of the country and were taken to a racecourse. Fascinated by the sight of horses chasing one another around a track, the two of them kept betting all evening till they had no more than two dollars left. The following day the man prevailed upon his wife to let him go to the course alone.
