Brain.fm

[Gerri Attrick]

Has anyone tried this as a way to increase creativity and productivity?

I had a 3-day free trial, where my daily w/c did go up slightly, and I've since bought a month's subscription. I'm still finding my way around it - some of the 'music' is irritating - it's going to be a case of finding a track I can live with and take it from there.

Anyone else tried it? Did it work for you?

[Post-Doctorate D]

I have an app on my iPad that promises the same thing.  Also, I have some music tracks that are supposed to be similar.  The latter was a one-time purchase.  The former was either a one-time purchase or free.  No subscriptions.

I use them sometimes.  I am not sure any inspire creativity, but they do seem to help with relaxation and other stuff.

Often, though, I just like it to be quiet when I write.  I used to be able to write while listening to music or watching TV, but anymore both can be a distraction.  But sometimes I like the hum of something running, like a fan or motor.  Some of the frequency sounds are kind of similar which may be why the sound of a fan can be relaxing.

I also have an app on my iPad with nature sounds.  Don't recall if that was free or a one-time purchase.  Either way, no subscriptions.

[Gerri Attrick]

Thanks, Dan.

Like you I prefer it to be quiet when I write so I was hesitant to try it to start. However, there is a noticeable improvement in word count - not much, but it's there - so I'll carry on with it for the month and then re-evaluate.

Link: https://www.brain.fm/faq

[She-la-te-da]

Music distracts me too much. I daydream I'm a famous singer with a great life, singing all the songs to massive cheers. Even if it's classical, I'm playing one of the instruments, spotlight on me.

I'm used to writing with kids and a dog all over all day, with the TV on. These days the kids are gone, the dog is old, and the TV is starting to annoy me. I grew up in a house with five other kids, all of them noisy and irritating. TV on, people running around, yelling, screaming. Yeah.

Maybe I should try one of those sensory depravation rooms. The change might kick me into writing more. :D

[LilyBLily]

Music distracts me too much. I daydream I'm a famous singer with a great life, singing all the songs to massive cheers. Even if it's classical, I'm playing one of the instruments, spotlight on me.

I'm used to writing with kids and a dog all over all day, with the TV on. These days the kids are gone, the dog is old, and the TV is starting to annoy me. I grew up in a house with five other kids, all of them noisy and irritating. TV on, people running around, yelling, screaming. Yeah.

Maybe I should try one of those sensory deprivation rooms. The change might kick me into writing more. :D

That's interesting. We do change our needs over time. If we grow up with lots of family around and plenty of noise, that doesn't necessarily mean we ever functioned well or that we function best with such noise later in life. We don't sleep hard the way we did as kids, either.

I like to have music on all the time, but different kinds for different activities. For writing, I prefer opera in foreign languages. Even when I know the libretto well, the words don't intrude. Symphonic or other supposed brain music bothers me. Right now I'm listening to a Bach oratorio and it's driving me nuts. Not my thing.

[Bill Hiatt]

Everyone's brain works a little differently, and there are many things we still don't know.

That said, there is some evidence in learning research, that background music, because our brains spend a little power processing it, may reducing processing power available for other functions at least a little.

That said, the research I have in mind relates to a learning situation and found that background music, even subdued background music, would reduce learning when students were experiencing a multimedia presentation. The study found that music was best reserved for transitional moments rather than points at which instructional content was being delivered.

Obviously, writing is different from watching a presentation and might not be affected in the same way. Personally, I used music in the background when I'm doing activity that requires somewhat less brainpower, like prepping the monthly newsletter. When I'm actually working on a book, I find the process slows down with a musical background. But that's just me.

[APP]

Everyone's brain works a little differently, and there are many things we still don't know.

I need total quiet to write. Any type of noise or music is a distraction for me.

[She-la-te-da]

We do change our needs over time.

I certainly believe that. Now that my youngest has finally taken his dog to live with him (after years and years), I'm realizing how much the small noise she made worked its way into my system. Funny that I never thought that would happen. I'm kind of at a loss at the moment. I'm still learning to adapt, even at almost 65 years on this planet.

Bill, interesting about that study. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.

I'm seriously considering trying something new with the writing environment. I'm kind of set in my ways, but that doesn't mean I can't find a better way. Now if I can just get the outdoor cats to stop running on the roof like a herd of elephants crossing at the water hole, I might have a quieter day.

[David VanDyke]

I got a lifetime subscription. It helped me. It's not a silver bullet, but it seemed to be a supportive thing for long writing sessions.

I had to find the right track and the right volume. For me, sort of subliminal level, barely perceptible.

Nothing lost by getting the free trial and fooling around with it, see if it works for you.