Music or Silence?
When you are working at your computer, do you prefer music or silence?
Jay often comments that he works best with his headphones on and music blasting. Usually I prefer silence, but today I am the only one at home and i find that I miss the sounds of my kids and my wife. The house is never this quiet and it's kind of freaking me out a bit. I am actually finding it a bit hard to concentrate, as my mind is starting to wander, filling in the empty space made by the lack of noise.
I finally put on some music and that helped, even though it normally distracts me. The radio station I am on is playing non-stop Christmas music. Normally I would say it's a bit early for that, but it has been surprisingly helpful and has managed to lift my spirits a bit, which is great.
What about the rest of you? Do you need silence, or do you find some ambient noise helps you concentrate? even after all this time, I am still trying to find what works best for me. It seems that it varies from day to day.
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I have found I like music if it isn't distracting...it has to be songs that don't have lyrics or have lyrics in another language so I don't know what they are saying! This might sound strange but it works for me! I like classical (as long as it is happy classical not depressing classical), some jazz can be great if it is upbeat, instrumental that is also upbeat, and mostly world music. By world music I mean music from other cultures or influenced by other cultures. I really like some African music, it is really upbeat, also some Asian music. Mexican doesn't work because I know just a little Spanish and I always sit there trying to figure out what they are saying! With the other languages I don't even try.
Some techno/trance music can be good for working too...it can be too intense sometimes also though. When you find a good one with a fast tempo it can really get you moving!
Sometimes music that I know the lyrics too really well (like Christmas songs) can work also.
I think you're on the right track with instrumental music Jessica - as long as there are no violins. Studies have shown that violin music is too much like the human voice, so our brains are programmed to be distracted by it. Evidently, studies show that any music is a bit distracting, in general, and rarely improves productivity statistically, but instrumental music is the least damaging. Add that to the fact that it can help attitude, and allow people to relax a bit, and possibly work longer, I say go for it.
My husband likes music and he likes it loud. I always want him to turn it down. He thinks I am boring or depressing since I don't like loud music. Luckily we agree on the classical, jazz etc. though. I am just not a fan of his hard rock/heavy metal!
Today was Christmas songs all day. It was actually not too bad, as it put me in a happy mood, but it was somewhat distracting. I think I need to find some nice instrumental music, or as I mentioned elsewhere, some nature sounds.
I'm going to experiment. Today was really the first time that I was distinctly aware of the lack of sound.
It depends on what I am doing. I do like a little jazz piano in the background sometimes. However, I enjoy silence mostly. Especially if I am deep in thought.
Thanks for asking.
David
Thanks for the response.
I guess for most of us, it really depends on our mood and a couple of other factors.
I like a little noise, but silence would be a nice change - sadly, anything close to silence gets filled in with tinnitus in my case. I guess I've been in a few too many noisy industrial spaces in past years.
I used to have NPR on much of the time, but that REALLY is too distracting, even if it is educational...
I don't know if I could put on anything educational... I doubt I would be able to work while listening.
Maybe I need to make a recording of my kids fighting. Lol
You should try that. If it helps your productivity you could sell it to other entrepreneurs, workers, childless families...
You could probably sell tons of it though your very own affiliate program :-)
Good evening Craig,
I am not surprised that you say it varies from day to day.
We are no machines so our mood fluctuates, high, low, or somewhere in between. Each mood needs different stimulation.
I have a favorite German channel where they sell precious and semi-precious stones made into jewelry. It is sold auction style but starting with a high price to go lower and lower. Then all bidders pay the last price. They have more than 500 different stone types for sale, really interesting. For me, this is the ideal background music/talking.
Greetings from a cooler south, Taetske
I think that would be pretty distracting to me. I do ok with music, but often wind up singing along if I like the song. I might need to try something without lyrics, or perhaps some of those "nature sounds" recordings.
HI, Taetske.
It is so interesting to hear other people's responses.What is "noise" to one person is comforting or enhances the concentration of someone else.
I am familiar with those auction sites you were referring to, but I wouldn't get any work done because I'd be wanting to buy it all! (Just kidding.) I know that music that is unfamiliar and doesn't have words is soothing to me, and would probably enhance my creativity. But, I love to sing, so I can't use anything that has words that I know, or I would be singing along and not concentrating on my writing.
Carol
I do something similar with a home shopping channel on TV! The presenters have soothing voices and are always kind and happy. The loud ones are distracting though.
Good Morning Craig,
I once received a meditation music which is the sound of rain. Sometimes in the hot summer, I put it on and visualize myself sitting in the Himalayas in a Buddist temple. I look out over the beautiful mountains and after 15 min I am very much relaxed and cool.
Greetings from the cooler south, Taetske
Good Morning Carol,
In past times I had shopping attacks as you can bid just by pressing 1 on your phone. I bought for myself and often also when I needed gifts. As the prices are so low it is very tempting.
Nowadays I like to look because I just love stones and the amazing thing is now and then new stones are discovered somewhere in the world and then present on this channel.
Greetings from a cooler south, Taetske
Good Morning Jessica,
I have been looking for some 10 years and know the people by heart, it is fun as they all have their way of presenting the jewelry.
Greetings from a cooler south, Taetske
That is exactly what I said Carol. I love listening to music in other languages. If I understand the words I pay attention to them and concentrate on what I am doing.
That sounds nice!
My mother used to love the sound of rain, and even used to sit at the window watching it. Water sounds are very soothing for a lot of people.
Silence, usually, for brain work (including anything on the computer), but for anything act like washing dishes or cleaning house: dance party all the way! :-)
I often listen to music while shoveling. Ha ha. That is normally the only time. It's weird because music used to be a big part of my life, but now it's mainly for driving.
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Hi, Craig. I usually don't have TV, radio, or stereo on when I'm working. I find it distracts me. When I am at my sister's house, where the TV is on from the time they get up until they go to bed at night, I find that's irritating to me. It sort of makes me jittery to have that noise on all the time. However, I live on a mountain with a BOLD creek right that always makes a lot of noise as it rushes down the mountain, so it's never silent here. It sounds like it's raining all the time.
Are your wife and kids still away?
I think nature sounds might make for pleasant ambient noise. I might try finding something on YouTube to play in the background.
They were just away for the day. One son at school, one in daycare, and my wife at work. Usually I have at least one of them at home because my younger son only goes to daycare 3 days per week, and my wife is a nurse, so her schedule, while fixed, sees her doing two weeks of days followed by two weeks of nights, so she tends to be home fairly often when I am working.
Everyone is home now, but the kids are now in bed and my wife is watching something on Netflix.
Good idea. Nature sounds would work well for me, I think. I used to teach stress management and relaxation training. Used ocean sounds, and another one with bird and cricket sounds.