Do you work in silence? Or do you have music or the radio on? (If so, eBay Radio would be a good choice.) How about television, or a coffee shop’s background noise?
Some experts believe reading is just about the only activity that may be enhanced by being in a silent room, such as a library. They claim that noise begets creativity — which is good news for those of us who are media hounds.
Professor Ravi Mehta, who studied the way a brain processes information against different levels of background noise, concluded that a moderate level of noise not only enhances creative problem-solving, but also leads to a greater adoption of innovative products in certain settings. The sweet spot is around 70 decibels, or about the same noise level as a car driving by outside.
So don’t feel guilty if you want to hear music, radio, TV or even café sounds while you work. Just don’t go overboard with the noise.