Splittin' My Brain...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
May 7, 2008 9:37pm CST
I have come to the conclusion that although I’m great at multi-tasking…I can’t write and listen to something at the same time. The other day I was trying to write up a discussion and respond to some discussions and Hubby started watching Bones on his PC. Now, we share an office room and our desks face each other so we can talk and visit through the day…but this was so distracting. Half of my brain was listening to Bones and the other half was trying to do discussions. I had to just about block everything to finish the couple of discussions I still had open…then I quit until Bones was over.
Music is the same way…if it has words in it I can’t listen to it and try to read/respond to discussions. If it’s something like my ocean sounds that have no words then I’m fine. I don’t know why my brain doesn’t handle both but I’ve definitely come to realize that it is not something I can do. I guess I just need to try to get mine done early in the morning when Hubby is still asleep.
Can you listen to something and read/write about something else? Do you work best when it’s quiet? Why do you think this is so hard for some?
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
7 people like this
30 responses
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
14 May 08
It totally depends on what I'm doing- Right now I'm listening to the radio pretty loud and actually singing along a bit. If I'm working on something that takes a lot of thought (I'm an accountant) then the music must be turned down so I can concentrate. Usually the radio or tv is on at work when I'm online chatting.
1 person likes this
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
9 May 08
Actually, the only thing that you can tune out when you are doing something else, is something that is of no interest to you. If you are interested in it, or feel it may be something that you need to hear, you will not be able to focus.
For instance, my roommate is always bored. Especially, when I am on Mylot. She turns on her radio. Because I am genuinely not interested in the music that she is playing, it does not bother me. I know that it is not something that I need to hear either.
But, when she starts talking to me, it irritates me to no end. I am thinking that she is saying something that I may need to hear or that is of interest to me. If I do not stop and listen, I make stupid typos. What she hast to say is rarely ever important. But now she has interupted me and broke my concentration and I lose my train of thought. It is like living with a child.
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
8 May 08
I can watch (er listen) to something while discussing, but I find I miss parts of it! Saying "what happened" wears thin on others after awhile though.. so if I really want to watch something, I'll get off the computer.. I can listen to music.. only then I sometimes will discuss slower, as I spend some of the time getting into the music.. which reminds me, why is it so durn quiet in here?!!
1 person likes this
@lovespecialangel (3632)
• United States
9 May 08
I am the same way. I can't read or write anything while listening to something or someone. When I do, I usually start writing what I hear instead of what I wanted to write. My daughter can read and write while listening to anything. I have watched her read a book and watch a TV show at the same time. I am not cordinated enough to do that. I'm not sure why some can and some can't.
1 person likes this
@ldybgsgma99 (798)
• United States
8 May 08
I do my discussions and responses early in the morning with no tv and no sound. My son is usually still asleep and no one bothers me unless the phone should happen to ring. If I have sound, then I have a horrible time concentrating as well. I am one of those people that can't walk and chew gum at the same time I guess. I have a very hard time concentrating on more than one thing at a time.
1 person likes this
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
8 May 08
i need quiet when i am at my computer or doing any kind of paperwork especially anything with numbers. i am good at multi-tasking too but background noise is just a huge distraction for me.
1 person likes this
@DavidReedy (2378)
• United States
9 May 08
Sometimes, for me, the distraction is inspiring, and sometimes it's just that--a distraction. Good post, now you got me thinking--trying to figure what determines when the distraction is a plus for me and when not...
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
8 May 08
It depends. I can sit here and have the tv on and not even pay attention to it unless something that interests me should come on. I do have a couple of tv shows that I like but they are on at the same time so I have to switch back and forth. I can usually read or work on the pc with tv or music going. But with music I am just as likely to stop what I am doing and pay more attention to the music.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
8 May 08
Hi twoey, I prefer quiet when I'm writing. I don't mind too much if I'm just responding to a discussion here, but if I'm into some serious writing, it has to be quiet. Sometimes I will get up and pace the floor as I search for the words I want to say. Blessings.
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
28 May 08
Being a parent of young children, multi tasking is a must for me. I always listen out for them, though they are in the same room as me, and most of the time, I am able to just let them play and spend on my computer without too much interruption. If I need to step in and break up a fight, then I am right here to do it. Funny though, they seem to think they are invisible to me when I'm at the computer. Guess that works to my advantage.
I've always been able to listen to music and work. If it is too quiet, I can't concentrate, so having music or the tele on when I am working away ruining my keyboard further, actually helps me to concentrate better.
I guess everyone is different, and for me it is a skill I have learned as a child.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
14 May 08
I find I am the same way as I cannot do a discussion
and listen to music at the same time. my discussion'
always comes out all goofed up. so one task at
a time twoey. i can read and listen to music but
not write and listento music. lol
@ruthinian (2309)
• United States
8 May 08
Well, I grew up with noise. My mother wasn't so happy about it though and I got scolded every now and then. I don't know but I can't review my lessons, do my assignment or read my textbook without the radio on. And that was 30 years or so ago when I was still a student. Now that I am a grown up, I would have the TV on while I am working in the computer. I may not be able to grasp all of what was on TV but I do have an idea of what is going on in the background and participating in myLot at the same time. Sometimes I get the idea for a nice topic for discussion from the background I heard from TV, that is why I keep the TV on while I am working on myLot.
@DonnaLawson (4032)
• United States
8 May 08
I work better when it is quiet.. Talking distracts me and if I am doing something and hubby is listening to a movie, he puts on his earphones.. He also tries not to bother me when I am on Mylot.. He is usually in another room, so I do have my peace and quiet, if I didn't then I couldn't get anything done on here.. Have a great evening.. Donna
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
8 May 08
Neither can I. I love listening to the radio or the CD and most of the time, something or the other is playing inside the house. It relieves me a lot from the boredom and tiredness of household work and my hubby loves the music too. BUT I have to put a stop to it if I am reading or writing something. I just cant do the both together. It’s a fairly regular cause of the common verbal family duel and ends up with me folding up the paper or the copy and at the same time, my hubby dear switching off the radio or the computer! What supreme sacrifice by both of us!
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
8 May 08
I always have the tv on in hear and I dont hear it most of the time but if something catches my ear I stop to watch or if I get a phone call like just now I can write here and talk lol
Looks like we will have to just study answrering mylot emails and nothing elkse hugs
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
8 May 08
I am also like you. When there are songs[with words] I get distracted. If it is instrumental, the effect is not drastic. i am also good at multitasking but when it comes to writing/thinking/ I find songs distracting.Any other noise is ok.
Music is something I love , especially the songs and so I get carried away.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
8 May 08
Oh good, someone like me...
My daughter can do way too much multitasking, but the only kind I can do is going back and forth between sites, not anything at the exact time, as in watching tv or listening to music..
I remember one time in 8th grade and the math teacher had brought in a radio one day..Needless to say I struggled trying to get my work done, while everyone else was having no problems..And trying to block out the music, (I love music and of course it was music that everyone knew, a popular station), was very difficult, I wanted so bad quit trying to figure out the number problems and sing along, but I couldn't..
This is also why I do most of mylotting in the morning, when husband and son are gone and my daughter is sleeping..Because if they start talking my only choice would be to stop typing here or to block what they are saying..
My daughter can do way too much multitasking, but the only kind I can do is going back and forth between sites, not anything at the exact time, as in watching tv or listening to music..
I remember one time in 8th grade and the math teacher had brought in a radio one day..Needless to say I struggled trying to get my work done, while everyone else was having no problems..And trying to block out the music, (I love music and of course it was music that everyone knew, a popular station), was very difficult, I wanted so bad quit trying to figure out the number problems and sing along, but I couldn't..
This is also why I do most of mylotting in the morning, when husband and son are gone and my daughter is sleeping..Because if they start talking my only choice would be to stop typing here or to block what they are saying.. @kevends (47)
• China
8 May 08
yes,it's hard to do two different things at the same time,
you're unable to concentrate on one problem and thinking the others as well.Quite is good for me to thinking the questions,nobdoy would bother me.I think only I could do is to paly the games and listen to the music at the same time
but when i indulge in the games,i forget the music!!!!
@mandarinamel (99)
• Malaysia
8 May 08
When I am at the computer, I need to have music as a background, it helps me concentrate and chears me up when I am home alone. But music is the only thing I can listen, if its and audio book or the TV I can not concentrate and I en up watching TV or listening to the Audio Book and doing nothing on the computer.
