Getting me through this afternoon’s study and assignment writing. Vampires of the world, beware.

Music for studying

Some people need absolute quiet around them, but I’ve discovered that I mostly like to listen to music while I’m studying. It has to be through headphones though rather than just on the stereo in the background, even when I’m alone. I find the same thing when I’m at work and I need to concentrate on writing a document for a period of time.

I think the fact that the music is coming through the headphones blocks out everything else around me and helps me maintain focus on whatever is in front of me without any other external distractions. It blocks out the sound of my husband playing xBox and obscure metal from the living room very well too…

The only problem with this is that it doesn’t stop me from talking to myself out loud about whatever problem I’m trying to work through. I’m quite the aural learner and it really helps me to talk myself through learning something, questioning something, or stepping myself through a process. Which is not a problem for me, it’s more of a problem for the people around me – it’s a bit disconcerting for them to suddenly hear me exclaim loudly or have a conversation with myself when I had been so quiet previously. Sometimes I sing along too, and anyone who has ever heard anyone sing along to music that no one else can hear will know how bad that can be (and I’m basically tone deaf).

Oh well. Here’s what I’m loving for a study soundtrack at the moment: TunnFM. It’s 90s music online, and it’s a great mix – takes me back to high school but in a good way! And it’s getting me through general ledgers and double entry accounting!