Reading and writing have become increasingly difficult in a
world with fewer quiet spaces. Some people claim to enjoy working in an active
and energetic environment like a coffee shop. Noise may help spark ideas for those individuals. But my view is that
noise pollution is one of the biggest hurdles for most people trying to focus
on any project.
I have a lot of empathy for students who struggle with
procrastination. How is anyone supposed to write a speech or study with so much
noise going on around them? Most of the schools I teach at are in densely
packed cities. I assume that most students also live in compact apartments or houses
on busy streets that are full of noise at all hours of the day and night.
I recall the hopelessness of trying to find somewhere quiet
to read a complex and long article or to write a ten-page paper while I was in
school. One of the best investments I ever made was a pair of industrial
earmuffs from amazon (shown in picture). I acquired my own personal sound-proof
study space for a mere twenty dollars. I was so relieved to have the chance to focus
and think clearly without noisy neighbors, cell phones, music, or traffic
interrupting my thinking.
A first step towards beginning any assignment is finding a
suitable space to work. I’d guess that a significant portion of projects get
stuck at this first essential step. If you find yourself having a hard time
focusing on an outline, or any work, consider finding a quiet space.
If you’re lucky, you might find somewhere quiet to work at
home or in a library. If that’s not possible, consider buying some noise
blocking ear muffs. They’re well worth the money. Think of it as four lattes at
Starbucks for an unlimited quiet study space.
I’m kind of sensitive to noise, I’ll admit it. It may very
well be that not everybody is so picky. But I’d wager that most people would perform
far better work with a quieter work space.
So good luck with whatever it is you’re working on. If you’re having trouble, seek out a quiet space!