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# Why You Should Work in Silence
- URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/why-you-should-work-in-silence/
- Published: 2017-11-01T13:48:47.000Z
- Updated: 2017-11-01T13:48:47.000Z
- Author: CJ Chilvers
- Tags: Productivity

I read this a while ago in [The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/12/the-best-music-for-productivity-silence/509948/?ref=cjchilvers.com) and didn't want to believe it:

> "Studies show that for most types of cognitively demanding tasks, anything but quiet hurts performance.”

The whole article is good, but that's the main idea.

I love listening to music while working. I can usually remember what I am working on by the song that was playing at the time. I remember working in the darkroom on a print that won contest back in 1995\. How did I know it was 1995? Three new albums were playing on repeat while I was printing: [Astro Creep 2000](http://amzn.to/2h3a1PF?ref=cjchilvers.com), [Balance](http://amzn.to/2zXKqLP?ref=cjchilvers.com), and [Waiting for the Punchline](http://amzn.to/2zoPKLR?ref=cjchilvers.com).

These days I have instrumentals or thunderstorms playing while I'm working. But, after reading this, I tried silence for a while. Then, I went back and forth comparing the quantity and quality of my work.

Turns out, at least for me, the article is accurate: I work better in silence.

But I have more fun with sound.

I suppose the answer is to weigh your priorities at the time (heavily biased towards fun), and never ever work in an open office.