Finding quiet in a madding crowd

pseeker_2

*falling asleep in the same room never is the same* [I just made this up for misleading illustration]

several factors in play [as ever!] and it's all about how they interact>

*the task type [implicit factor]- if it is Repetitive/mechanical/automated, or Creative/lateral-divergent/decision-making.

*performance [active factor]> if you are under pressure, your brain tends to focus-streamline your cognitive functions, which ironically helps cut out environment noise in most cases. This overlaps with motivation too: when you do something you dont really want to do the psychology will likely work against you in this case.

*conditional - your usual working environment> when you move to different environment you cut yourself off the usual distractions, and automatically create new "personal space" while judge things around on face value - there's usually little emotional memory/involvement.

*the type of environment. we subconsciously tend to choose "safe" (comfortable, but with good observation span and established escape route).
brain tends to ignore near-homogeneous noise when engaged with a task [crowd passing, murmur, music in background, ]
In case for music, this can also work as a "screen-filter" that cuts you off [mentally] from your environment. When working and listening [to your fav music] this puts you in a "mental" environment that you know, and works as a distraction barrier - when distracted you focus on that noise[=music] and switch back to the task, instead of interacting[distraction] with the real environment.

these overlap and interact. a new environment limits our action options. if i am bored and the place is boring i will start doing something or thinking about something else. if am motivated i'll likely focus on a problem. if there's too much noise of some sort, i mentally calculate how long i am willing to stand it before i move elsewhere.



...but you might just work better so you could sooooon get back to the safety of your cubicle

note> i wrote this off-hand, whether a load of rubbish or not - I welcome challenges, and frown upon stealing

Errata

MSE_Martin wrote: »

I do but I tend to keep my head down which means people don't see me and it take s a lot to disturb - was thinking of getting a hat though

Looking at the picture against your blog, you won't need to as you've clearly had a face lift and bought a wig

ceridwen

Not for me - most definitely not. I need my silence I do. I would also get very distracted by people-watching in that environment too.

Gotta have silence to "hear myself think". I still recall the t.v. being on when I was trying to do my homework whilst at school:mad::eek:

I have my radio on whilst doing cooking/housework normally - but if something needs some serious thought - then I have to turn that radio off.

small

I agree with those who like the background noise.

I was away on a week long CISSP bootcamp. We were in the classroom all day and then revising in the evenings. Most people disappeared into their bedroom to study - that was not good for me. I preferred to go down to the hotel lounge and sit studying next to the log fire with the background of people and the hotel muzic.

I also listen to alot of music whilst working but I know a lot of other people who can't.

It would be a bit boring if we were all the same!!

pseeker_2

>
>Originally posted by: colscript
>
>Pondering is useful and helped by mild distraction
>Recall is helped by mild distractioon
>



Looking at my earlier prolonged pseudo-psychological brain-goulash,

i'd only like to add:

"nothing ever happens until something moves." [was it a einstein?]

;-)