To be completely transparent, it can be hard to sit down, focus, and study. Our minds travel elsewhere, little voices tell us we should be doing something else, and our phones chime and quickly tear our attention away from our studies.
As a freshman, I have had to re-learn how to study actively, and effectively. In high school, I would pop my AirPods in and shuffle my main playlist, which included all of my favorite artists and songs I knew word for word.
Needless to say, I would become so distracted, getting up every few minutes to dance around or perform an impromptu concert for nobody. Despite having a blast, work that could have taken me thirty minutes to complete would turn into a long hour and a half, subsequently pushing off other assignments. I set myself up for late, sleepless nights, and worse, I did not retain any information.
As I began college, I made it a goal for myself to learn how to study well and complete assignments in a timely manner. I knew deep down that the music I listened to influenced my level of distraction.
I always had a small, hidden penchant for classical music, and so I decided to shuffle a playlist on YouTube that contained calm, classical music. In contrast to the songs I listened to before, this music served as comforting background noise for me, and did not take front and center stage. I felt that the classical melodies helped me remain calm and work steadily through a paper or assignment. Classical music is now one of my default choices when I am studying for an exam or working on an assignment that requires 100% of my focus.
Classical music is not for everyone, however, and sometimes a change is necessary! One of my other musical “discoveries” is Lo-fi beats. The soft, yet happy beats of lo-fi music are a nice switch up from classical. I find that these playlists help me unleash creativity and heighten my mood, because who wants to be upset or stressed during a study session!
There are some days where I do not feel like listening to music, but knowing myself, I do need some background noise. One of my other finds are ambient sounds. If I cannot study in an actual café, I turn to café playlists. The low hum of coffee machines in the background, people’s chatter, the noise of a fireplace in the corner, or rain pattering outside, combine into a peaceful and familiar lull that helps me focus my attention on the work in front of me.
In the spirit of Fall, Halloween, and soon, Christmas, my current favorite playlists are instrumental covers of songs that exude fall “vibes,” like Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift covers. I love romanticizing study sessions, and these playlists are an absolute must! For me, Jazz is also a top choice for study sessions during the Autumn season. Admittedly, I have already begun looking into Christmas playlists, listening to my favorite instrumental covers of Christmas songs with a fireplace crackling cheerily in the background.
Yes, these playlists help limit distraction with the absence of lyrics, but more importantly, the tunes help prevent me from getting too bogged down by stress or anxiety, especially if I am on a time crunch. These playlists have helped me look forward to studying or completing an assignment, and I have noticed a significant change in my distraction levels overtime. Whatever you may be feeling on a certain day or study session, you can look up a playlist that will work for you, hit shuffle, and let yourself get in the zone!