Simone de Beauvoir, a French philosopher and novelist who wrote ‘The Second Sex’ and made a huge milestone in modern feminism and existential thought. Her high-focus state, which produced high-level intellectual thoughts and meticulous sentences every time, was woven not in a glamorous and sealed study, but in a corner of a bustling Paris cafe. ☕
Every morning at 10 AM, Beauvoir went to ‘Café de Flore’, her famous favorite artistic cafe in Paris. She sat in the quiet corner seat where she always sat, ordered a cup of tea, and was fully immersed in writing without moving for 4 hours until 2 PM. The cafe staff refrained from unnecessary serving to avoid disrupting her writing flow, and the surrounding noises acted as a great white noise blocker that erased her loneliness and stray thoughts. For Beauvoir, the cafe was not a space where she was interrupted, but a sanctuary where she completely simplified and isolated herself from all the complexity of life.
Today, BuildSelf looks into the brain science concentration principles hidden in Simone de Beauvoir’s ‘cafe writing’ routine, and discovers how to set up ‘My Own Focus Zone’ for modern people who suffer from constant distractions and stray thoughts.
Historical & Academic Evidence
This content is based on Simone de Beauvoir's Autobiography 'The Prime of Life' & Journal of Consumer Research.
1. Working Mechanisms of White Noise and Cognitive Script
Scientifically, facing the same physical environment (favorite seat, ordered drink) every day activates a ‘cognitive script’ that helps transition directly into immersion, reducing unnecessary decision-making when shifting tasks.
In addition, the gentle white noise of 50-70 decibels (dB) in cafes prevents the brain’s attention network from obsessing over specific stimuli or feeling bored. White noise gently stimulates brainwaves to activate alpha waves that induce creativity and problem-solving, and light dynamic movement around naturally touches the mirror neurons, easing the sense of isolation and maximizing Deep Work efficiency with psychological safety.
2. 3-Step Practical Routine for Modern Professionals
Selecting Candidate Cafes Optimized for Your Focus
Pre-select 2 cafes near home or work that have tables at a good height for work and where music is not too loud and natural conversation sounds are low.
Writing a Start Script Dedicated to Focus
Mechanize a sequence of actions—sitting in your favorite cafe seat, ordering a specific drink (e.g., rooibos tea or americano), and opening your notebook—to induce the brain to transition into immersion.
Performing 3-Hour Immersion and Preparing Noise Backup Plans
Immerse in work during the set time (at least 3 hours), and if surrounding noise decibels rise too much or unpleasant noise invades, immediately turn on active noise cancellation on your headphones to secure cognitive safety.
3. Social Noise That Is Only Immersion in Appearance
Not all noises are beneficial white noise to the brain. Music over 70 decibels or distinct conversations of people nearby (speech noise) actually interrupt the brain's phonological loop, significantly degrading reading and logical writing abilities. It is essential to find a place where a natural noise level is maintained, or use noise-canceling headphones if speech noise is clear.
📌 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why did Simone de Beauvoir choose Café de Flore? ▼
During the severe winter cold of Paris in the 1940s, Café de Flore kept stoves very warm inside, and the owner had an artist-friendly atmosphere that did not pressure customers even if they stayed for a long time, making it her best workspace.
Can I implement cognitive scripts in a home environment? ▼
Absolutely. Even without leaving the house, you can trigger the same cognitive switching effect with a sequence like turning on a specific lamp at a specific desk corner, designating a mug cup used only during focus, and playing a specific background white noise.
