Bad Study Habits Help: Background Noise

[Barca2015]

I've noticed that i can barely ever study when its totally quiet in the room. I always have to have either music or some movie playing in the background (Low enough so i cant really follow). It would seemingly not be a problem but i find my mind wandering too easily and end up listening to the lyrics or glance at the tv. I tried to remedy this by playing house music which i actually prefer anyways but soon enough i end up putting a movie on and i am back to being distracted. I do get work done but it either takes me way to long to finish what i set out or end up running out of time. 😕

Does anyone have similar problems? Any study tactics that would help with my inefficient habits or ways to focus without background noise?

Thanks for the help!

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[Ironheme]

I can't study in the library for this reason. My best study places were in front of the lecture hall auditoriums (like outside the class), where there was carpeting + huge windows. You'd get random people walking by occasionally, which was enough noise for me. I'd usually hang out there for ~2 hours in between classes. It was a waste to walk home and back. Those 2 hours were very productive for me. Another spot, is usually couches in the lounge.

If you have a laundry machine in your apartment that would do it too. I don't listen to music or have TV on, cause that's a different type of distraction. I highly suggest the school one.

 

[Barca2015]

Thats funny you mention the library. I used to go there all the time because i thought everyone studying would make me more motivated and focused. I did more looking around/talking/getting up than actual studying.

Washing machine is actually a great idea. Mine is super loud and should work out, just gotta find a ton of laundry to do now haha.

Thanks!

 

[wiclimber]

I also can't seem to concentrate in a completely silent area, the noises that invariably occur from time to time seem to distract me. Along with this if I have music or the TV on I focus more on that than I do my studies. The best solution that I have found is a white noise generator app for my phone. It gives you a variety of sounds (i.e. rain, thunderstorm, ocean, fan, etc.) that can drowned out background noises and are constant enough to not be distracting themselves.

 

[thedoctor8706]

Yep, I usually have to run a fan or have some kind of epic soundtrack in the background... otherwise my focus is nonexistent.

 

[Ironheme]

I also can't seem to concentrate in a completely silent area, the noises that invariably occur from time to time seem to distract me. Along with this if I have music or the TV on I focus more on that than I do my studies. The best solution that I have found is a white noise generator app for my phone. It gives you a variety of sounds (i.e. rain, thunderstorm, ocean, fan, etc.) that can drowned out background noises and are constant enough to not be distracting themselves.

This is a great idea. 👍

 

[CysticFibrosis]

There is nothing wrong with that. I also put my headphones on in the library and put some smooth jazz on Pandora and study for hours. This stuff is too dense to study in the quiet.

 

[Kaustikos]

I just play Sigur Ros the entire time. The music isn't loud/annoying, the vocals aren't distracting and it just helps you not get distracted by the outside world.

It also helps that I have no idea wtf they're saying.... but it sounds awesome.

 

[FSU2013]

There's a reason I paid the $36 to subscribe to pandora. I put on my snow patrol channel and I'm good. I would always study by myself except a couple days before the test with two of my buddies. They thought it was wierd, but I always kept 1 earbud in during out study sessions because I focus better and get off topic less.

 

[Slack3r]

Strange, I need dead silence to study...

 

[hopeinternist]

simplynoise.com

 

[bashir]

I like rainymood.com when music is too distracting.

 

[aulive]

I like rainymood.com when music is too distracting.

Ditto on the simplynoise.com. Combined with my Bose noise canceling headphones = in the zone

I have listened to pandora on a low volume (loud enough to enjoy, but quiet enough to not really get into the music) and listened to simplynoise "brown noise" on a medium volume and it works great.

 

[Lady Netter]

http://naturesoundsfor.me/ has been my go-to site for a while. I can't do anything with words. I usually just listen to rain - it's enough noise so it's not dead silent, and I won't fall asleep. But it's soft enough that I'll often forget about it for a long time before I notice it again.

 

[113]

7Hz binaural noise
[youtube]66tq9xji0xA[/youtube]

 

[wiclimber]

Combined with my Bose noise canceling headphones = in the zone

How do you like your Bose headphones? I've thought about picking up a pair, but can't decide if the bang is worth the buck compared to the ear buds that I use now which do a fairly decent job of isolating outside noises.

 

[BeastInfection]

I prefer noise too, and studied with the TV on throughout undergrad. You're right, TV was pretty distracting and would make studying very inefficient, as I would start watching whatever was on for 10-15 min at a time, then go back to doing stuff, repeat...

I go to coffee shops/cafes a lot. There's a ton of background chatter, but I find there is so much it all just blends together, so you don't usually notice individual conversations which would be distracting. I also find it oddly relaxing to be around other people doing "normal" things. Students in the library just stress me out--far too intense--but in public places they're smiling, talking with friends, doing their own work, reading books, etc.

Or try some classical or ambient music.