Noise and concentration

[thyme4change]

When I was a teen, my parents and I fussed at each other because I would listen to music while I studied.  I was a sucky student, so I can't really stand by decision.

When I'm in the house and need to do chores or whatever, which is usually more physical than mental, I have to have noise on.  Music, TV whatever.  At work where it is more "thinking" stuff, I generally work in quiet.  Some days when I'm having trouble concentrating or staying focused, I do turn on some music.  I have found that it makes me feel less lonely, so instead of finding reasons to get out of my chair and socialize, I can actually sit there and work my way through.  

My daughter told me there was some study that said people are more productive when music was on, but she had no details - so I don't know if that is 'thinking' stuff or physical stuff.

All that said, a gal at work listens to audio books while she works.  I can't imagine following a plot and being into a story and being able to produce quality work.  

Could you listen to a book and work?

Do you listen to music while working?

Do you let your kids listen to music while studying?

[Angel!]

It just depends on the task. If I'm writing a report or doing something mentally challenging, then I can't listen to anything. Easier tasks I listen to music. If I'm really busy, then I save the super easy stuff to take home & watch TV while I work.

[shanendoah]

I like noise in the background, I always have, no matter what I am doing.
However, when I am truly concentrating, I tune the noise out, no matter what it is. When I was a teenager and we listened to tapes, I'd put a tape in when I started my homework/reading/etc and often I wouldn't realize it needed to be flipped over until a half hour or more since it stopped playing. Now a days, when I have a CD on repeat, or am listening to my mp3 player, I'll often realize that I have no idea what the last song (or 5) that played was.

[hoops902]

Similar to Angel.  I really like having music on while I work.  Really easy stuff and I like it kind of loud.  If I'm doing something that requires real thinking I have to stop it. 

I could (and sometimes do) listen to audio books (but more likely podcasts) while I do other work.  Even if I really have to think I can listen to them.  I couldn't tell you what they were saying at the time, but I'll be able to rattle it off later.  I'm not sure why it's different.  To me it seems as if something with a regular beat (music) just throws off my brain from being able to think at a high level (like my brain can't get past that rhythm), but the background words end up similar to coworkers talking if it's not music? 

Edit:  I had some HS teachers who were ok with me reading while I listened to lectures.  I've almost always done that even through college.  It seems to engage my brain more when I've got that double stimulus as long as neither overpowers the other.

[thyme4change]

Dec 8, 2014 18:43:10 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

I like noise in the background, I always have, no matter what I am doing.
However, when I am truly concentrating, I tune the noise out, no matter what it is. When I was a teenager and we listened to tapes, I'd put a tape in when I started my homework/reading/etc and often I wouldn't realize it needed to be flipped over until a half hour or more since it stopped playing. Now a days, when I have a CD on repeat, or am listening to my mp3 player, I'll often realize that I have no idea what the last song (or 5) that played was.

That sounds like me.  I guess the act of tuning out the noise is distracting enough to keep me on task when my brain is set on "scatter."

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Not anymore.  Once upon a time, I could.

When I go in to work on my CAD drawings, there is a class that lets out at 11 and the people come flooding into the computer lab.  The noise increases proportionately to the number of people there, and my productivity goes to 0.

Last night, TD has the TV on while I was doing my final for one of my classes and I was incredibly distracted.  Fortunately, the exam was fairly easy but I noted myself becoming annoyed at the noise.

[Deleted]

I hyperfocus when I do real intellectual work. If you so much as speak to me or cross my line of vision, I might hurt you. I had to check into a motel the night before prelims so that I could study since I had small children.  Fortunately, my ex understood this.

Housecleaning, ironing, etc. are entirely different. They don't occupy my mind. I like music because they so don't occupy my mind that I will start overthinking if I don't have something to distract me.

I try to be sympathetic to students with different learning styles than I have. Some of them need music, etc. so they can drown out distractions. Some of them, though, spend so much time looking for the "right" song that I have to bust them. The rule is, "Make a playlist." This is when they are writing, working on questions, etc. You can't have earplugs, etc. when I am talking or you are reading. I don't think that works.

I'm a different generation.  I am single-focused as opposed to being a multi-tasker.

[Deleted]

Noise is not my trouble but vibrations are distracting my when I am studying.

[andi9899]

I don't need or listen to music at work. I do, however, work in a loud environment. I tend to talk loud and others in my area talk loud too. So spend a lot of the day with my office door closed, but it doesn't get rid of all the noise.

As far as the girls go, they always have ear buds in, so they could be listening to music while studying and I just don't know...

[Tennesseer]

I like background noise at home.  I cannot imagine listening to audio books at work and also concentrating on the work at hand.  To me, the co-worker is not being paid to listen to audio books at work. A little bit of quiet music in the background is okay.  

[busymom]

When  I need to focus on reading, I need quiet so I can absorb what is on the page.

When it comes to "mindless" tasks, like housework, I like LOUD music to work quickly.

Working on finances, or writing a letter, I like total silence.

[Cookies Galore]

I'm in the music helps me focus camp. It must be the nature of my work, because many of my co-workers listen to something while they work as well. My mind is constantly racing so music is one thing that helps reign it in.

[justme]

I study way better with music, but not new music because then I'm too distracted to listening to it. When it's really quiet I get really distracted by any noise and my thoughts go in ten different directions (how no one until recently agreed I'm add I don't know lol). My parents never made me turn it off but often requested headphones. I wish I could have listened to music while taking tests.

[Deleted]

I can't listen to music when I need to focus. OTOH, I practically can't work out without my music and podcasts. I also like them on when I drive.

[TheOtherMe]

At home, I want background noise at all times.

At work, I don't like music, etc.  Last tax season, my co-worker played country music all day.  I hate country music.  I found it distracting.  I have never been able to listen to music when I work and I prefer it to be quiet.

[whoisjohngalt]

I haven't done any intellectual work in years, so my brain has turned to mush and I don't remember anything about anything

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

I wouldn't want to try and work while listening to an audio book. It's like reading - you have to concentrate on the plot/story which would distract you from your work.

I always have background noise on at home - whether it's the TV, the radio or a CD. When I had my own office, I had a radio that was always on, and played at a low volume for background noise.

I can't work/concentrate if the room is too silent. I even have one of those little boxes that plays "white noise" or nature sounds (rain, waterfalls, thunderstorms, rain forest, etc). I need the background "noise" to be creative and think.

[thyme4change]

Dec 8, 2014 22:48:35 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

I haven't done any intellectual work in years, so my brain has turned to mush and I don't remember anything about anything

If it helps you any - my brain is also mush and I don't remember anything about anything due to age.  So, maybe it isn't the work you have chosen as much as your decrepit body.

[whoisjohngalt]

Dec 8, 2014 22:58:15 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Dec 8, 2014 22:48:35 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

I haven't done any intellectual work in years, so my brain has turned to mush and I don't remember anything about anything

If it helps you any - my brain is also mush and I don't remember anything about anything due to age.  So, maybe it isn't the work you have chosen as much as your deprecated body.

I am trying to figure out if I should feel better or worse about it now.......it might take me awhile.

In all seriousness, I could absolutely listen to music while working, but not listen to books.  I used to be good at tuning out almost anything.  I still can but I have to concentrate harder.

Also, bc I am so nosy, I tried to train myself to listen to numerous conversations all at once.  I don't remember if I got any good at it.

[gooddecisions]

I really can't listen to music when I'm reading anything, including this forum. I will have re-read the same sentence 5 times.

I prefer quiet for the work I do, which involves a lot of reading and writing. That said, I'd rather music if I'm in an environment where I can hear phone conversations and such. My old office had music piped in, but when I traveled, other buildings had no music. It was miserable trying to focus while conversations were happening all around me. I dread going back into an office where I no longer get to control my environment. I know, first world problems.

Pretty much the only time I like to listen to music is when I'm in the car or exercising. If the t.v. is on, I'm watching it- otherwise, I turn it off and leave it off.

[Deleted]

When I'm doing housework I need music on to keep me moving.  At work they have music playing overhead, but I tune it out.  People will point out that they've been playing some genre all day when they're supposed to switch at such and such a time and I'm clueless.  What I can't deal with is other sounds around me when I'm working.  The guy next to me gouging away at his back with his back scratcher.  The one behind me eating rocks (or something equally crunchy), and the one on the phone that talks WAY TOO LOUD and clears his throat constantly.

It's at this point I put on my headphones and listen to Pandora.  I'd rather have total silence when working on something that needs concentration, but the annoying sounds are so much worse than music.

[bobosensei]

I read about a study given to introverts and extraverts that tested whether background noise helped or hindered them during tests.  They found introverts did the best on tests when there was no noise, but extraverts did best when they had background noise.

[Shooby]

I like quiet now. It was easier to block out when I was younger but even in HS, I did not study with music blaring loudly.

[Shooby]

I do like background noise at home if I am cleaning or doing house chores. But, it would have to be music or some kind of talk program like Dave Ramsey or something. I would not be able to follow an audiobook popping in and out of a room.

[wvugurl26]

I wouldn't classify myself as an extrovert but silence drives me crazy. Maybe I'm just not used to as I grew up with 2 younger brothers.

At work if I need to concentrate on something the headphones go on so I can drown out my neighbors. People talking is distracting if I really need to concentrate but I need something like music in the background. My attention span is horrible so I don't know if that plays into it.

I used to do my algebra II homework for the weekend on Sunday with the Nascar race on the tv.

[Baby Fawkes]

I find that I can easily work in quiet, but often listen to music at work because we have an open floor plan and I can get distracted by other conversations. When I need to focus I put my headphones in and listen to music that has fewer lyrics or stuff that I'm just really familiar with and not trying to understand what is being said. I could never manage to listen to an audio book at work. I'm sure I'd get half way through the audio book and I realize I don't know the main character names.

[gooddecisions]

I actually would classify myself as an extrovert, but can't stand noise if it's not my main focus.

[Tiny]

I use to listen to music while doing homework - but that was mostly because it helped to keep me focused on what I was doing. Without a record on (this was in the dark ages) my mind (and I would physically) wander away from what I was doing (reading, writing an essay, answering questions). I think the magic was in the fact that I was familiar enough with the 'playlist' or the order of the songs that it became 'background noise' that helped me keep from getting distracted while studying.

I always have the radio (or a music from my extensive collection) playing when I'm at home.
I'm one of those people who didn't get stuck in a rut musically (only listening to a handful of bands or a particular decade of music) - so I'm usually rotating into some new genre of music or new band or something fairly often. I like finding new tunes.

I can't be in a room with a TV without watching it. I have no idea how people can have a TV on and say read a magazine/book or play with their electronic distraction or talk on the phone or do homework. I won't fall asleep with a TV on - especially if I see the picture... I'd die of sleep deprivation if I had to spend days in a room with a TV on all the time.

I cannot listen to a book/story/lecture on CD/radio/whatever and do anything other than pay attention to it. I have trouble listening to some shows on NPR and driving. I tried to listen to a book on CD in the car and nearly had several accidents. I stopped doing it.

I listen to music via headphones at work. I find the other people in the office distracting. I find the street noise on certain days of the week irrating (wednesdays at 2:00pm there's a 'shredding truck' outside that runs for about 45 minutes and the noise is really annoying. On Fridays some sort of mechanical stuff happens outside that produces a low pitched whine that goes on for HOURS and me and my co-workers complain about it - it gives us all tension headaches. It's a huge relief when it stops.

[Sam_2.0]

OMG, my favorite thing is quiet. No music. No noise. DH needs to be playing music constantly, and usually really loud. I can't even explain the reaction I have to it, especially when we are in the car. I feel trapped and I have to almost mentally check out because I can't stand it.

[Deleted]

I can't listen to music if I really need to focus or concentrate on something and could never listen to an audio book

For any other task or chore I need the music.