How to mentally cope with constant music and sound
December 17, 2007 8:09 AM Subscribe
I'm in a living situation where there is a lot of constant, erratic noises throughout the day from repairs being made down the hall. There is nothing I can do about it for the time being, except suck it up and take it. My question is...
How can I mentally tune out these loud, erratic noises so I can think, write and sleep? Are there tricks to adjusting psychologically? Is there a way of ignoring my daughter's rap music as well?
How can I mentally tune out these loud, erratic noises so I can think, write and sleep? Are there tricks to adjusting psychologically? Is there a way of ignoring my daughter's rap music as well?
As far as your daughter's rap music, get her a nice pair of headphones for christmas. And get yourself a pair too. I emphasize nice ones, since then maybe she will be more eager to use them. And if you get yourself a pair of noise-canceling ones, you can listen to music that you don't find distracting, and cancel out some of the loud noises. Though in my experience they won't help a whole lot with really erratic noises, like hammering. With more constant ones, like maybe drilling, they'll be a bit more useful. And if you can't afford some nice headphones, you can always just tell your daughter, "use some dang headphones, kid. I've got work to do." I'm guessing you don't want to deal with the fallout from that. Of course I don't know your daughter, but I think even rather unreasonable young people can bring themselves to cope with the extreme hardship of having to use headphones instead of speakers.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 8:21 AM on December 17, 2007
posted by gauchodaspampas at 8:21 AM on December 17, 2007
Second the nice pair of headphones for your daughter idea. She might be playing her music loud as a way of combatting the same loud noises you are having problems with.
I would suggest either some nice in-ear earphones, or hard-backed over-the-ear headphones. When I wear my over-the-ear headphones I can't hear anything from the outside world.
posted by burnmp3s at 8:26 AM on December 17, 2007
I would suggest either some nice in-ear earphones, or hard-backed over-the-ear headphones. When I wear my over-the-ear headphones I can't hear anything from the outside world.
posted by burnmp3s at 8:26 AM on December 17, 2007
Fan = white noise = happiness.
Or the CD version. Also great for new parents.
posted by TedW at 8:29 AM on December 17, 2007
Or the CD version. Also great for new parents.
posted by TedW at 8:29 AM on December 17, 2007
You could always go in and do some obnoxiously silly dances when she overplays one song, as the youngins are apt to do these days. Nothing will be worse (assuming your daughter is a teen) than having you doing the running man to SHAWTY YOU A TEEAN(AYYY!) as you excitedly say "I love this song!". Bet she'll turn it down then. If not, wait until her friends are over, and try it then.
As far as the noise, I have those same distraction issues, and noises constantly around. I swear this past saturday there was a guy with a diamond tipped drill boring his way through a skyscraper outside my window. I looked and identified where the noise was coming from, then cranked up the tv, and a few hours later, I'd forgotten all about the guy, until I forgot he was out there. So maybe try to pinpoint the sources of the sounds, so you know what is making them. Maybe that helps with habituation, I don't know.
The only other tip I have is to listen to your own music and have that playing in your head.
posted by cashman at 8:31 AM on December 17, 2007
As far as the noise, I have those same distraction issues, and noises constantly around. I swear this past saturday there was a guy with a diamond tipped drill boring his way through a skyscraper outside my window. I looked and identified where the noise was coming from, then cranked up the tv, and a few hours later, I'd forgotten all about the guy, until I forgot he was out there. So maybe try to pinpoint the sources of the sounds, so you know what is making them. Maybe that helps with habituation, I don't know.
The only other tip I have is to listen to your own music and have that playing in your head.
posted by cashman at 8:31 AM on December 17, 2007
I don't know if you could sleep in them, but noise cancelling headphones are brilliant. I see people on commercial flights using them with nothing plugged in just to get rid of the din. With music playing as well, then the outside world is simply a visual experience (as long as no-one punches you for not hearing them call you).
I have some in ear headphones from Sony (similar to this incredibly tiny picture - the rubber gaiter is key as the fully plastic ones hurt) that are incredibly comfortable and I can sleep in them, and I have a fan that is excellent at the white noise argument. I have no trouble sleeping in the summer, and live in a busy road that is pretty noisy if I need to go to bed early - without these I'd be an awake and grumpy bear.
posted by Brockles at 8:40 AM on December 17, 2007
I have some in ear headphones from Sony (similar to this incredibly tiny picture - the rubber gaiter is key as the fully plastic ones hurt) that are incredibly comfortable and I can sleep in them, and I have a fan that is excellent at the white noise argument. I have no trouble sleeping in the summer, and live in a busy road that is pretty noisy if I need to go to bed early - without these I'd be an awake and grumpy bear.
posted by Brockles at 8:40 AM on December 17, 2007
Response by poster: gauchodaspampas and burnmp3s: She doesn't like to wear headphones, because when she sings along to the song, she says she sounds stupid. I agreed with her (jokingly of course).
cashman: I do that all the time ;) Problem is, I'm starting to know the lyrics to these songs (but then I get my revenge by singing them to her, even when we're walking down the street together. Drives her nuts.
I think you're on the right track with habituation. Are there other techniques?
posted by survivorman at 8:47 AM on December 17, 2007
cashman: I do that all the time ;) Problem is, I'm starting to know the lyrics to these songs (but then I get my revenge by singing them to her, even when we're walking down the street together. Drives her nuts.
I think you're on the right track with habituation. Are there other techniques?
posted by survivorman at 8:47 AM on December 17, 2007
I'm not an expert, but in my experience there are two methodologies for dealing with these things:
1. Buying things that help you phyisically block noise
or
2. Adapting your lifestyle to compensate not for the noise but for the discomfort it causes you.
If giving your daughter headphones won't work, the best thing in that situation is to ask her to play it less loudly. If she won't, that's unfortunately an issue you'll need to handle your own way. But people who make noises that disturb the people they live with have to learn to be more considerate and that's all there is to it. Whether she likes how her singing along sounds is pretty much not a concern. Life's tough.
For the noises down the hall: I lived near heavy construction right outside my window for a while, and since I worked at night and slept during the day it was right when I was getting to sleep. What worked for me to was be active enough during the day to be exhausted when I got to sleep. Whether that means walking or some other form of exercise or something else entirely for you is really up to what you want to do. Where writing is concerned, it may be that if you can't get it done while the noises are happening then your only option is to take your writing elsewhere. A library or something like that maybe.
posted by shmegegge at 10:54 AM on December 17, 2007
1. Buying things that help you phyisically block noise
or
2. Adapting your lifestyle to compensate not for the noise but for the discomfort it causes you.
If giving your daughter headphones won't work, the best thing in that situation is to ask her to play it less loudly. If she won't, that's unfortunately an issue you'll need to handle your own way. But people who make noises that disturb the people they live with have to learn to be more considerate and that's all there is to it. Whether she likes how her singing along sounds is pretty much not a concern. Life's tough.
For the noises down the hall: I lived near heavy construction right outside my window for a while, and since I worked at night and slept during the day it was right when I was getting to sleep. What worked for me to was be active enough during the day to be exhausted when I got to sleep. Whether that means walking or some other form of exercise or something else entirely for you is really up to what you want to do. Where writing is concerned, it may be that if you can't get it done while the noises are happening then your only option is to take your writing elsewhere. A library or something like that maybe.
posted by shmegegge at 10:54 AM on December 17, 2007
Strong, strong second for the recommendation of in-ear sealing earphones. I'm in a noise situation similar to yours, thought I didn't like earplugs based on past experience, finally decided to give them another shot... and they CHANGED MY LIFE.
You can find them in all price ranges but what I have are Etymotic ER-6i earplug phones, which will be around $70 at Amazon or another discount place. They have incredible sound reproduction noise isolation. Just google them for many excellent reviews. They come with 4 kinds of tips (foam tips and 3 sizes of rubber-flanged tips) so you can see which feels best. Listening to any kind of music with them, even soft music, really masks outside noise. I wish to gawd somebody had convinced me to try earplug phones earlier.
Also I have to mention that if you just want less noise and not the combo of [less noise + music], just try drugstore earplugs -- super cheap and they come in rubber or foam varieties.
posted by lorimer at 1:12 PM on December 17, 2007
You can find them in all price ranges but what I have are Etymotic ER-6i earplug phones, which will be around $70 at Amazon or another discount place. They have incredible sound reproduction noise isolation. Just google them for many excellent reviews. They come with 4 kinds of tips (foam tips and 3 sizes of rubber-flanged tips) so you can see which feels best. Listening to any kind of music with them, even soft music, really masks outside noise. I wish to gawd somebody had convinced me to try earplug phones earlier.
Also I have to mention that if you just want less noise and not the combo of [less noise + music], just try drugstore earplugs -- super cheap and they come in rubber or foam varieties.
posted by lorimer at 1:12 PM on December 17, 2007
typo. "sound reproduction noise isolation" = "sound reproduction and noise isolation"
Just saying 1) they seal well + 2) the music sounds amazing with them.
posted by lorimer at 1:14 PM on December 17, 2007
Just saying 1) they seal well + 2) the music sounds amazing with them.
posted by lorimer at 1:14 PM on December 17, 2007
I hate noise. Even noise I like will suddenly reach a point where it just has to stop. At least rap has a beat. Erratic banging from down the hall... would drive me INSANE.
Ear plugs + earmuffs (filled with cotton balls?) with a towel around your head. As many layers as it takes.
Also, I don't know if you're familiar with how an esky/cooler works? An inner wall, outer wall and a dead space in between. This idea is also effective with keeping sound on its respective side too. Nice thick wool blankets suspended out from the wall for example.
Or if you're been assulted by an echo/travelling sound type thing, obstructing it's path with furniture or perhaps a fan even, to disrupt the vibration on its way to plague you.
Complete silence - there ain't nutin like it.
posted by mu~ha~ha~ha~har at 6:52 PM on December 17, 2007
Ear plugs + earmuffs (filled with cotton balls?) with a towel around your head. As many layers as it takes.
Also, I don't know if you're familiar with how an esky/cooler works? An inner wall, outer wall and a dead space in between. This idea is also effective with keeping sound on its respective side too. Nice thick wool blankets suspended out from the wall for example.
Or if you're been assulted by an echo/travelling sound type thing, obstructing it's path with furniture or perhaps a fan even, to disrupt the vibration on its way to plague you.
Complete silence - there ain't nutin like it.
posted by mu~ha~ha~ha~har at 6:52 PM on December 17, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dame at 8:19 AM on December 17, 2007