I’m kind of the opposite. I actually need something playing in the background to get stuff done. Music, a movie, whatever. Total silence makes it weirdly harder to focus
But yeah, what helps me is picking what that background is like choosing a playlist or putting on a movie I’ve seen a million times. That way I’m not just scrolling into the void but I still get that stimulation my brain wants
you know maybe instead of trying to cut it all out you just braiguide it a bit
Jun 5, 2025
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I am a background music girl through and THROUGH! I also used to religiously listen to Chopin but now I listen to tonnes more instrumental music;
Dev Hynes' scores for Queen & Slim and We Are Who We Are are so addictive to me and so unique, I love listening to them while studying.
Piero Piccioni is a composer that made scores for old Italian films and the Camille score and Amore mio aiutami score are my favs for studying when it's sunny.
I'm seconding the other reply left to this q. Whenever I'm doing the most boring work and I have no motivation I shuffle the Succession soundtrack and pretend that what I'm doing is super important and going to save the world.
Berlioz is an artist I listen to exclusively when I'm studying late. Jazz is the perfect vibe for late night studying but sometimes I just want to fall asleep so jazz-house is perfect because it keeps me awake enough.
Hiroshi Yoshimura's Surround album is a lot more ambient than my other recs and can put you to sleep if you listen late BUT is very calming and gorgeous and runs almost no risk of being distracting.
Mac DeMarco has a whole 9hr album of 90% instrumentals that I'll listen to sometimes.
Low-key also drum and bass... this is verrrrry hit or miss I'm aware. I can only listen in certain circumstances but sometimes when I need to do a lot of work quickly I'll just slap on an instrumental drum and bass playlist and hammer it out. Listened to Entanglements by Alix Perez for a while last year, but usually just find a playlist. Dnb tends to feature samples with words but I don't find them distracting typically as they're not at the forefront of the mix.
I also find that if I listen to music in a language I don't understand, the lyrics don't distract me as much. I've been listening to Eliana Pittman's self-titled album recently while studying but this could potentially apply to any album.
OMG okay that's all I have. I feel insane.
Mar 11, 2025
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For a lot of these like the driving/walking/train can ones I also like to play them in my field of view and keep my eyes trained on them while I work it really helps me lock in…
* Miracle Forest ASMR ambience
* Driving in rain
* Walking in the rain in Boston, MA with binaural rain on umbrella sounds
* Train cab ride videos (any of them)
* Sometimes if I’m having a really tough time focusing I will play this awful Muzak-core video in the Christmas season it’s so flatly unenjoyable as music that it helps me shut off my brain and do what I need to do
* Brown noise
Nov 5, 2024
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i’m incredibly sensitive to external stimuli, especially noise (which I find a little funny because i’m a musician and surrounded by noise all the time) .Brown noise is a less harsh version of white noise and I find it much more calming to listen to.I play it quietly every night to sleep. Living in the city it helps to drown out all the weird chatter, chirping birds, car screeches, and cat fights. Or when I’m back home visiting family in Atlanta, where it tends to feel too quiet at night, it adds a nice cushion of noise to an overly dead room.Another big use for me is when i’m overstimulated or anxious. On tour, I play it in my noise canceling headphones on long drives while I sleep or read to block out any talking and music. I also listen while I get ready before going on stage so I can focus on just what I need to do instead of getting distracted by what everyone else was doing around me
Sep 11, 2023
Top Recs from @pranay-weg
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this is one of the few places online that actually feels good to use. I didn’t expect to enjoy it this much, but it’s thoughtful, chill, and way more human than the usual social apps.
May 3, 2025
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I really believe our names shape our lives. not just what people call you, but how the world sees you, responds to you, reflects you back to yourself.
If mine was different, I don’t think I’d be the same person at all. maybe nothing around me would be the same either.
It sounds unhinged but I don’t care. and yeah, it keeps me up at night more than it should
May 25, 2025
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Honestly, most people I know aren’t really thinking about it that deeply. Everyone’s just tired, and if AI helps get stuff off their plate quicker, they’re gonna use it.
May 2, 2025