Re:Multitasking Doesn't Work
by foobiekr on Friday October 08, 2021 @12:14PM
(#28800918)
In my experience, music and noise generators help, but silence (and a clean desk, both literally and in terms of visual distraction) helps more.
Music, to me, seems to be the perfumed room deodorizer of noisy environments - it drowns out something that’s a problem rather than lending concentration. I understand why people use it in open workspaces.
When running or exercising music is great because it distracts the conscious mind and lets you avoid getting lost in thought. I think this is the same task it serves when, for example, coding. But hard tasks require that otherwise distracted mind and that’s where it falls apart.
Music, to me, seems to be the perfumed room deodorizer of noisy environments - it drowns out something that’s a problem rather than lending concentration. I understand why people use it in open workspaces.
When running or exercising music is great because it distracts the conscious mind and lets you avoid getting lost in thought. I think this is the same task it serves when, for example, coding. But hard tasks require that otherwise distracted mind and that’s where it falls apart.
But obviously YMMV.