Do your teens listen to music while studying?

[Righttoo]

Just wondering as my ds like to listen to music on his phone/earphones. But I always used to find it distracting

Yes and so do I. Oldest dc always has an AirPod in!

One of my daughters listens to it while doing homework but can't when actually revising or preparing for a test as it distracts her too much. Also when she's learning something for the first time, like Maths, she can't concentrate with music in the back which frustrates her! My other one loves it and listens constantly to help her get over the boredom of studying but I often walk in to see her dancing instead of working!!! My son doesn't listen to music at all while studying but he's not too big on music anyway.

One does one doesn't.

I always had to have music or tv re-runs on while doing school work, and as a mid-30s professional I still do. I've experimented a lot with various types of background noise to find what works for specific situations, but sitting in a quiet office is the absolute least productive option for me. I can't drown out all the random sounds (people breathing, birds, an HVAC switching over, keyboards clicking...) or the random chatter of my brain otherwise.

Encourage your teen to try different options and see what allows them to work most efficiently for each subject and type of work. Maths can be totally different to a reading subject for example.

I am academically v successful and always listened to music while revising - in fact I still do now when WFH in an intellectually demanding job.

I find it positively soothes my brain and enables me to really tap into a deep state of concentration. Without it I am very distractable and far less efficient - unless my brain is kept “happy” in this way I am much more likely to seek out a cup of tea or start scrolling on my phone.

@ComfyBoobs do you listen to music with lyrics?

Yes. DD did. She has always done well in exams.

I used to. I remember listening to Dark Side of the Moon on repeat when I was doing my A levels.

@Righttoo Yes, absolutely.

I don’t really pay attention to the lyrics though, it’s more about the energy. I swing between soothing and familiar if I’m stressed, versus more energising if I am feeling sluggish and lazy.

It’s a bit like I have a toddler at the back of my brain who needs to be kept entertained. Once there’s sorted, the conscious bit of my mind is free to concentrate and often I tune out of the music altogether and am not that aware of it, but just feel more settled. The music positively helps me to work more productively.