I've been listening to music while working, and it's been hurting my performance. When I turn it off, I'm left with either a void of no thoughts and some anxiety or background thoughts either racing.
Probably the same way you fight any addiction - you either starve it out or replace it with something that doesn't hurt your performance.
Do you listen to music with lyrics? Replacing it with ambient music with no words and no distinctive melody could be one solution.
Or, in my opinion, a better solution would be to dig deeper and to find out why silence causes you anxiety and discomfort. For hundreds of thousands of years people have worked in complete silence. Are you mentally avoiding something?
I have this problem as well. I tend to get sucked down a hole of music videos or following particular artists I like and a few clicks turns into an hour or three wasted.
I tried cutting out music/youtube entirely but I feel odd without music. I tried using ear plugs instead, and it kind of helps just having something in my ears. I still have no perfect solution.
"Peaceful Piano" playlist on Spotify. Classical music is great at fading into the background.
Additionally, look into symptoms of adult ADHD. The problem may be larger than not having music, your brain may be constantly craving stimulation that can never be fully satiated.
Definitely not encouraging meds, but there is a world of coping mechanisms that you could put in place to help you focus.
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[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 37.3 ms ] threadDo things to practice being alone with your own thoughts, and when you do, don't identify with them just... observe.
Do you listen to music with lyrics? Replacing it with ambient music with no words and no distinctive melody could be one solution.
Or, in my opinion, a better solution would be to dig deeper and to find out why silence causes you anxiety and discomfort. For hundreds of thousands of years people have worked in complete silence. Are you mentally avoiding something?
Music is great--doesn't matter whether YouTube or otherwise. Do what's good for your mental health
I tried cutting out music/youtube entirely but I feel odd without music. I tried using ear plugs instead, and it kind of helps just having something in my ears. I still have no perfect solution.
Additionally, look into symptoms of adult ADHD. The problem may be larger than not having music, your brain may be constantly craving stimulation that can never be fully satiated.
Definitely not encouraging meds, but there is a world of coping mechanisms that you could put in place to help you focus.