Do you ever get into a mood where work must get done but your stress or anxiety levels are pretty high? In my undergraduate degree, I was the person who needed to study in ABSOLUTE silence in order to be able to focus. I studied in a part of the library that was SO quiet that there was a buzz and even a heavy air pressure.
When I started my master’s degree it was too challenging for me to focus in a silent space because my anxiety would get the best of me. So I started turning towards long YouTube playlists of background music to keep me focused. Something mundane, no words, a tune I didn’t know so I couldn’t hum or sing along to. It was a simple strategy I used, and became a cute tradition and joke amongst my friends in my program. We had a couple cafe jazz songs we would go back to, one with a girl studying as the photo, and we’d call her Jazzy and say she was joining us in studying.
Find something that brings you joy, is soothing and not identifiable and try it out. Or maybe you’re more of a rock out while you do work kind of person, and if that’s the case, me too sometimes! I’ve added a couple of my current focus songs down below (and yes, I have been studying to some christmas music!) What are your go to songs to study or focus on work to? Share your favourites in the comments !
Be Your Own Sunshine 