Turn off Your Music
Ever had a song end while you were working and not notice that it was off until half an hour later? This has happened to me on more than one occasion. Usually it’s because I am focusing on the work I am doing, and it makes the work more enjoyable.
A lot of people feel like they need to listen to music while they’re working to get “pumped up.” Sometimes this is the case, but for me it only works when I am doing repetitive tasks that don’t require much writing. Most of my work requires writing though, so I often look for music without lyrics so I don’t get too distracted. I’ve found that if I want to focus on my work though, it’s much better to turn off the music and focus on the task at hand. Plus, I can only listen to the same Ratatat beats or flamenco guitar so many times.
A great African band I saw on Thanksgiving
Think about how much of your day is spent listening to music… in the car, on the subway, at work, maybe even while sleeping. Try it as an experiment: turn off your music whenever you have a chance. If you want to listen to music, go out to where (if possible, live) music is playing. I’m sure when you come back and listen to your music collection, you will enjoy it much more.