There are lots of things people turn to to help them focus. They might strive for a clutter-free desk or set a timer as they work for a certain amount of time. And then there are those of us who need background noise to focus on a task, whether it’s a Spotify playlist, coffee-house chatter or white noise. There’s something about background sounds that help you get into the zone.
Although there can be many types of people who require something in the background while they work, the preference does tend to vary among age groups. For instance, according to 2019 research from Poly, more than half of the Gen Z individuals surveyed said they’re most productive when they’re working around noise in an office, while 60% of Baby Boomers said that they’re most productive when it’s quiet.
People who need background noise to get their work done can have specific personality traits, and ahead, a psychologist details those common characteristics.
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Why Is Background Noise Beneficial to Some People?
Licensed psychologist Lienna Wilson says that one of the evolutionary functions of our nervous system is to be on the lookout for stimuli (i.e., sights, noises) that present danger.
“Even when you are relaxing and quietly reading a book, your brain is scanning for subtle noises that might present danger,” she tells Parade. “Imagine how you would react if you suddenly heard a firetruck siren outside, while you are quietly reading a book. The more you pay attention to external stimuli, the more difficult it is to focus.”
As a result, she says that background noise, such as white noise, helps eliminate intruding sounds, making it easier for the brain to focus on the task at hand or to relax—that’s why some people use background noise to fall asleep.
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There are certain mental health conditions that are tied to needing background noise. For example, Dr. Wilson says that people who have anxiety often don’t like to sit in silence.
“Since their mind often races, silence can exacerbate their racing thoughts and can bring a lot of unwanted intrusive thoughts to the surface. White noise can help them calm their minds,” she explains.
“Additionally, people who have ADHD, especially the inattentive presentation, are typically more easily distracted by outside noises. Stable background noise, like white noise, can eliminate those unwanted distractions,” she adds.
Dr. Wilson also observes that since people on the autism spectrum tend to be very sensitive to sounds, they may benefit from consistent background noise, like white or brown noise, to mask distracting environmental sounds. But there is a caveat.
“Even a consistent background noise may be too stimulating for some individuals on the spectrum, in which case they might prefer noise-canceling headphones,” she says.
And lastly, Dr. Wilson says that people with bipolar disorder who are in the manic state may be more sensitive and can be easily bothered by various noises.
“That’s why having stable background noise, like white noise, can help in those situations,” she explains.
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7 Common Traits of People Who Need Background Noise To Focus, Psychologist Says
Dr. Wilson points out that people who are creative tend to dislike repetitive tasks and find them boring. “Having some background noise, like your favorite soundtrack, can make boring tasks more tolerable,” she says.
2. You’re high-energy
“People who are high-energy and who like to move around as opposed to sitting quietly tend to prefer background noise,” Dr. Wilson says.
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If you prefer to have some background noise, you might be a lot more flexible than the average person. As Dr. Wilson says, “People who are flexible tend to be adaptable to various situations, like loud neighbors or living next to a train station. During the time of building their adaptability toolkit, they typically incorporate background noises that tend to block out the unwanted sounds.”
4. You’re a multitasker
You likely excel at multitasking. Dr. Wilson says, “People who like to multitask tend to enjoy background noise. They are used to quickly moving from one task to the next, and silence can make them feel that it’s slowing them down.”
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“Some people by nature are more extroverted and are looking for frequent social stimulation and interactions,” Dr. Wilson says. “They may have a difficult time tolerating complete silence and tend to gravitate towards background noise, such as music or TV in the background.”
6. You grew up in a loud family
You may have grown up “in a large, loud family,” as Dr. Wilson says, who adds that you may crave a reminder of what feels familiar and comforting and often gravitate to having background noise.
7. You’re afraid to be alone
“There are some people who are afraid to be alone because it brings up acute feelings of loneliness,” Dr. Wilson says. “Having background noise in those cases can help.”
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If you’ve tried background noise and it doesn’t seem to help you focus, you may just need the opposite—in this case, you may need to block out distracting sounds through noise-canceling headphones or earplugs, as Dr. Wilson recommends.
“Additionally, some people really benefit from reducing clutter in their work area,” she says. “When the work environment is visually cluttered, it can be visually distracting and can increase anxiety because it may become more difficult to find certain things that you need for your project. Creating a clean, organized desk space can help with mental focus.”
Or you just may need a change of scenery.
“Sometimes, a change of location can be really helpful,” Dr. Wilson says. “If you find that you cannot concentrate at home because you are easily distracted by certain tasks or people, you may benefit from going to a coffee shop. If the noise starts to bother you, try going to a local library or another quiet location.”
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When Background Noise Becomes a Problem
Although background noise can be helpful to many people, there are those times when it actually becomes detrimental to your productivity. You may notice that your need for background noise starts to interfere with your life—it can become a coping mechanism for poor focus, it could throw off your deep focus or the wrong type of noise (i.e. loud rock music) might negatively affect your productivity.
Other negative outcomes may include, as Dr. Wilson says: “You always need background music while you work, but you forgot your headphones at home, and you have not been able to concentrate all day. Or perhaps your co-workers are starting to complain that you are always wearing headphones, and therefore seem unavailable when they need to speak with you.”
For this, Dr. Wilson advises seeking a mental health consultation.
“A consultation with a mental health professional can help determine whether you have a condition that drives you to seek background noise, or help you develop other coping skills when you don’t have access to background noise,” she says.
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Sources:
Lienna Wilson, licensed psychologistPR Newswire/Poly: “Gen Z Says They Are Most Productive When Working Around Noise; Baby Boomers Say "SHHHH!" They Need Quiet to Get Work Done”Hence then, the article about psychologist says if you need background noise to focus you likely have these 7 traits was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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