Yea this is a good one but it can be so hard. Seems obvious that constant information streaming outside of silencing your own thoughts also makes the moments where you do have to sit in silence lower quality.
I recently listened to the Hammock Driven Development talk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f84n5oFoZBc) and it raises the very interesting point that it's not really the concious mind that makes big breakthroughs on hard problems, it's mainly the subconcious mind synthesizing information. It seems obvious to me that constantly intaking information will ruin this synthesization.
Sadly for some reason our brain loves filling the silence with junk...
blinkbat•5h ago
I find it odd that others need music or talking to focus. most of the time I prefer silence.
somesoftdev•5h ago
I’m the same, I think better in silence. It’s the only way I can really hear my own thoughts and let them run without being interrupted by music or conversation. That’s also one of the reasons I prefer working from home to working in an office.
mmcdermott•4h ago
I prefer silence but generally use music to focus. My choices aren't usually music or silence in practice, but music or office background noise.
Since my ordered ranking is Silence, then Music, with Office Noise last, music it is.
euroderf•4h ago
But music as instrumentals, yes ? Words are very distracting.
PlunderBunny•39m ago
If I listen to music and then do something else, I no longer hear the music. So I hardly ever listen to music because I’m always doing something else!
ChrisMarshallNY•11m ago
I’m not able to do my work with music, or even noise-canceling headphones. I’ve tried, and it doesn’t work.
I know that I’m unusual, in that sense, but there you have it.
I do listen to music, on my morning walks, though. That’s the only time, during the day, when I do.
aselimov3•5h ago
I recently listened to the Hammock Driven Development talk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f84n5oFoZBc) and it raises the very interesting point that it's not really the concious mind that makes big breakthroughs on hard problems, it's mainly the subconcious mind synthesizing information. It seems obvious to me that constantly intaking information will ruin this synthesization.
Sadly for some reason our brain loves filling the silence with junk...