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Ask HN: Is it possible to think well with noise?

6 points by asdflkj ↗ HN
I am used to working in silence, but this is impossible where I live now. I can hear everything that happens in my building, and it interferes with my work. Is it possible to learn to tune it out? How long does it take? Or should I continue knocking on people's doors and complaining?

I've tried foam earplugs, but they're uncomfortable, and apparently bad for your ears.

20 comments

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tlrobinson
It's certainly possible. I have this weird ability to basically turn off my ears when I'm concentrating on something.

It can be annoying though, since if someone is trying to get my attention they'll have to yell my name maybe 10 times.

epi0Bauqu
I have no problem working with some types of noise, such as noise from a bunch of people doing random things, like at an airport or coffee shop. But repeated annoying noises, like a jackhammer or dog barking, really, well, annoys me.

Two solutions.

1) Music. Turn it up or wear headphones.

2) Noise canceling headphones. I don't use them personally, but a lot of people I know do, and they seem to like them.

dfranke
Funny, I'm just the opposite. Machine noise doesn't harm my concentration at all, even if it's deafening. But anything resembling a human voice will drive me bats.
lbrandy
a nice pair of over-ear noise canceling headphones? Yes, low music (even classical) is more distracting than silence, but you'll get used to it (like I did). And, it's certainly better than outside noise.
dcurtis
A couple of years ago, I discovered Etymotic ER-4p headphones. They block out practically all the ambient noise. When I need to concentrate, I put them on and listen to some calm music.

I've never liked earplugs, but the triple-flange thing on the end of the Etymotics is remarkably comfortable.

rms
+1 for etys

I use the foam tips, it's too hard for me to get the triple-flanges to seal and the foam tips block an extra 5 dB though they don't attenuate perfectly evenly like the silicone tips.

Harkins
I find it's only possible when I really like what I'm working on. If I do, the rest of the world ceases to exist. I could probably work in the middle of a construction or demolition site for all it would matter.

If I don't like my coworkers, or the project is a stupid time-waster, or my boss is a jerk, or I otherwise don't care, I hear every interruption and they usually make me angry. I'll never stop being distracted, maybe because I want something to distract me to get away from it.

I know it sounds trite, but I ranted endlessly about the half-height cubicles at a previous job, how I could hear folks from far away, had no privacy, couldn't get into the zone. Now I'm doing work I like a lot and I can't say I even care about the half-height cubicles, though I guess I'd say I want more privacy if you asked.

jamesbritt
"I know it sounds trite, but I ranted endlessly about the half-height cubicles at a previous job, how I could hear folks from far away, had no privacy, couldn't get into the zone. "

I've heard it argued that the half-height cubes work well for noise because they do not create the illusion that people are off in their own separate sections.

In theory, this makes people more mindful of others and they speak more softly, etc.

It may also require some additional office culture reinforcement.

Harkins
At the first (bad) workplace that certainly wasn't the case. The place had high ceilings, so I could hear the sales and support guys who sat 20m away. At my current job, yeah, people generally speak in hushed tones or grab a conference/breakout room.
Prrometheus
My roommate can only study with horrible emo rock music turned up to concert-level volume. Finals week is unbearable.
markbao
White noise. Free generators available in the form of software, or just a .wav that you can loop. Works well in noisy environments, and the white noise blankets all noise so that you get used to it and it eventually fades out - for SOME people. For others, it's just annoying.
mechanical_fish
In Peopleware Demarco and Lister cite 1960s-era research from Cornell which found that having music on in the background did not interfere with logic or arithmetical thinking, but reduced people's ability to make creative leaps. Even if you think you're not listening to the music, part of your brain is being distracted by it.

There are many who find that white noise works better than music. And there are those who require music to get anything done at all -- maybe these are the exceptions that prove the rule (hey, it's psychology -- there are exceptions to every rule), or maybe they're people who would otherwise be really creative in finding ways to waste time instead of getting work done. ;)

But the Peopleware conclusion is that there really is nothing that's as good as actual quiet. That matches my experience, and apparently yours as well. Perhaps you need to do what so many other hackers are driven to do: Find the hours of the day when the building is quiet and work then. Or line your office space in soundproofing foam. Or find a quiet library nearby. Or move as soon as you can...

I second the recommendation of Etymotic ER-4P earphones, BTW, if there's no other option but to try them.

LogicHoleFlaw
I love working at night because it's quiet. I can hear myself think.

You can tell how productive I am by observing the volume of the music I'm listening to. The louder it is, the less I'm accomplishing.

Actually, the more I get involved with my work the quieter I set my music to be.

mynameishere
Or should I continue knocking on people's doors and complaining?

This will only drive you to madness. You have a few practical options, mostly already covered:

1) White (actually pink) noise generation. Cheapest way is to get a box fan and let it run.

2) Active noise cancellation. You can get Bose headphones. Sony Walkmans have built-in noise cancellation that works ok.

3) Best bet: Find a better place. Lots of buildings are designed such that noise is minimal. I'm in such a place right now.

13ren
I agree. My personal experience is that complaining about the noise makes it more annoying by creating personal conflict - even when done extremely politely and respectfully (and, so far, it has never done any good).

The best thing is to not focus on the noise (but at the same time, acknowledge it would be better to not have it, and take what steps you can). This is the best way to cope with it, not the best way to solve it.

If things are objectively contravening local noise laws (e.g. loud music at 3am on a weeknight), I call the police and don't get upset.

- An ordinary fan (white noise) really does help to mask the noise. I was very surprised at this.

- I found that objectively looking at exactly what the cause of the noise was helped. Specifically, to methodically list the path the noise travels to me, and in what situations I feel annoyed, and then to consider what I can change about each and what I can't. For example, I found that one window didn't close properly, and the air gap let in a lot of noise. I hung some sheets across the room, and that helped too (perhaps partly a psychological barrier).

- I often work in cafes (oddly, that noise doesn't bother me there).

- I find that I get lost in my work, and then when it gets hard I become more conscious of the noise, and more annoyed by it. Could it be time for a break? Taking a walk (away from the noise and the work) really helps me.

- there was an odd effect that when I did everything within my power to improve my situation to cope with the noise (that is, instead of trying to change others) it really made me feel a lot better.

- yes, move. So far, for me, it has made a big difference, but there is still some annoying noise at sometimes. I need to move again; but I do wonder that perhaps there will always be some noise, and it's best to find ways to cope with it myself?

rms
You could try sound insulating your apartment with fiberglass and egg cartons.

If you don't like in-ear sound protection, what about the full size over ear ones people use when they are shooting guns?

entelarust
for some reason i always work the best in a chaotic environment (i.e. tv, people, music, etc)