Are you able to listen to music/watch tv when working?

[Golurks Were Meant to Fly]

So yeah, basically the title. If so, is it only a specific song, type of music or show? Can you only do so when listening on a low volume? Does it help you concentrate, or do the opposite?

For me I sometimes try to do work while listening to music (never with tv) but I almost always end up shutting it off. It just becomes kind of distracting as it clouds my thought process. Even wearing headphones can be kind of distracting for me haha. When I do attempt to listen to music while working it's usually on very low volume and it's music that's pretty placid and doesn't have any loud bass or beat to it.

 

[Dter ic]

I can get work done listening to instrumental music that's downtempo like any of Emancipator's albums or OSTs in general. TV is a big no. For short pieces of work silence is better.

 

[Gligar]

Nope. The thing is with me, when I work, I just put all the effort at once rather than slouching. It really pays out at the end, as I get good marks.

 

[Auticorn]

I can listen to music while doing anything, really. Music helps me focus and keeps my concentration going longer. I discovered this in high school once. That's why I'm constantly listening to music like all of the time as well. If I'm not listening to it, and I try to work, I get more easily distracted by everything. Such as my parents talking in the background or something. This is both due to autism and ADHD. :x I have noise-block headphones too, so my music blocks everything out for me. I don't have anything specific I listen to other than what's on my nano.

Music comes more in handy when I'm writing something also. It does other things that help me, but that's another story. :3

As for the TV, that can actually distract me. I'll start talking to one of my friends, and before I know it, I'm staring at the TV while typing mid-sentence. D:

 

[Sylphiel]

Music, definitely yes. Does depend on the kind of music I use, but I find that I can possibly be more willing to work on something if I have music going in my ears. Especially if it's a good trance and/or electronic station, a lot of those songs make for good work background music without being too distracting.

TV though, nope. Unless it's stuff I've seen before, then the moment I turn it on I'll feel like I need to devote my full attention to it...thus negating using it as background noise in the first place.

 

[Firox]

No TV, its a distraction.

I noticed that I can't work well without music.
Metal is what keeps me motivated, and pumped up and takes away the boredness and sleepy feeling. Makes me work faster and harder without tiring.

 

[Crunch Punch]

Music yes, tv only if I leave it on something like the antiques roadshow or something. I like having a bit of background noise otherwise I get distracted by my own thoughts and whatnot

 

[Nolafus]

I can work with music, but turn on the tv and I tunnel way too hard. My roommates have had to practically yell my name before to get my attention while watching tv, so I don't really get anything done if it's on.

 

[Astinus]

I can listen to music while doing work, because it's just something I can listen to. I don't really have to pay attention to what's on (especially since I always listen to the same playlists), and the music helps to block other noises.

Can't watch videos while doing anything else. I always feel like I miss too much of the show by working while watching videos, so I like to devote more attention to it than my work.

 

[Norou]

I can listen to music when I'm working, if I'm writing something down then I have to use the instrumental version of the song. If I don't my train of thought goes berserk and I end up writing some of the words down from the song lyrics... yeah that was awkward when I wouldn't notice the mistake and would hand it in to my teacher.

 

[SparklingMistral]

Music, yes, TV not so much. I think I just get distracted more easily by the TV. It's not to say that music doesn't distract me either, but it's easier for me to focus if I have music playing than listening to a TV.

 

[Usagi-Chan~]

Yes, but only to music I'm not familiar with. For example, I can work just fine listening to Drake's 2nd album, Take Care. That's because I don't like it as much as his other albums and I've barely listened to it, so I won't get distracted singing along and anticipating my favorite parts of songs. On the other hand, if I listen to his last mixtape/album I won't get as much work done because I get too turnt to it.

 

[Sirfetch’d]

I like to listen to very tranquil things such as ambient sounds of the environment whilst working or doing homework. It makes me focus so much easier. I definitely can't listen to anything else or otherwise I would be singing along haha. TV is a major nono :p

 

[Early]

Watching a video or TV while working at the same time is definitely impossible for me, but listening to certain types of music can either turn out to be just as distracting, or work wonders depending on what it is. Usually, only video game music can still keep me focused on whatever it is I'm doing without taking my mind off of it.

 

[acatfrommars]

Depends. If I'm leisurely reading, then I might listen to some John Mayer, The Beatles, or something that makes me calm. If I'm like speed reading or trying to work quickly, then I focus and don't like to music. Same goes for if I'm like working on calculus or Chemistry, then I need concentration to be able to do well.

 

[Charlie Brown]

I can't concentrate when watching TV or videos. When I'm reading for leisure I don't like to listen to anything as the music I'm listening to can affect/influence how I'm perceiving what I'm reading. When I'm reading/writing essays for uni or doing general work, I like listening to music; it keeps me going and keeps me on track, and gets my energy up sometimes too. I just listen to whatever's in my library; sometimes I leave it on shuffle, other days I listen to premade high-energy playlists.

 

[Juno]

If I am actually concentrating and trying to get work done, I can't listen to music at all because I find it super distracting. Doesn't matter if it's just a tranquil, lyric-less track or something I'm familiar with, I prefer silence when I'm doing anything that involves reading or writing words and could never understand how people can work while listening to something else. If it's something that doesn't involve letters and numbers though, like if I'm drawing or painting, then I have no problem listening to music or watching videos.