Picture this: you walk into a library and suddenly feel the oppressive weight of The Silence™. You tiptoe like a criminal, terrified to sneeze too loudly. But … is this hushed, sacred quiet really the best environment for studying?
Turns out, not everyone agrees. Some learners swear by total silence. Others prefer lo-fi beats, café chatter, or the soothing hum of a spaceship engine (yes, that's a thing). And then there are those of us who can’t focus unless there’s at least something making noise.
So what’s the deal? Does background noise actually help you study, or are we all just inventing excuses to hit play on our 10-hour rainstorm loops? In this article, we’ll break it down—and share our favorite background soundtracks to help you focus like a laser-guided brain missile.
What is the Ideal Noise Level for Studying?
The Effect of Background Noise on Studying
Many studies have been done to explore the relationship between what we’re listening to and our productivity. The most popular question involves whether music is helpful or hurtful while studying. The answer to that question isn’t crystal clear either.
On the one hand, music has been shown to improve both the quality and quantity of work output, especially when performing creative tasks.
On the other hand, more recent studies have shown that music can have a negative effect on studying. Specifically, listening to music can impair your memorization skills, something you definitely want to avoid while cramming for a big test.
It seems that at this point, science can’t conclusively tell us whether or not listening to music helps us study better, although most studies agree that music with vocals or complex patterns is more distracting than repetitive instrumental music.
Other Types of Noise
What about other noises, though? According to most studies, silence really is golden when tackling the most difficult tasks.
When learning or analyzing highly complicated material, our brains process information significantly more quickly without ambient noise. The extra brainpower required to interpret the noise input increases the amount of processing that your already overloaded brain has to deal with.
When the ambient noise is particularly loud or grating during difficult tasks, it can even have a negative impact on your health, quickly raising your blood pressure and stress levels.
Still, noise can occasionally have its benefits. When doing routine or creative studying, low chatter and noise (such as the ambient noise at a coffee shop or in the student center) may be ideal for creative thinking.
Apparently, moderate noise increases processing difficulty, which in turn promotes abstract processing. In other words, the extra work our brain has to do while processing a problem or task in a relatively noisy environment gives us the extra push we need to find more creative solutions.
Matching the Noise Level to the Task
Perhaps the question shouldn’t be, “Is background noise good for studying?” but rather “How much noise is ideal when completing this particular task?”
- When you are feeling overwhelmed by the workload, added stimuli of noise may not be ideal.
- When you need an extra boost of creativity, music or background noise may help.
- If you are getting bored by what you are studying, it’s a much more personal decision. Noise or music may improve your motivation.
It’s important to remember that music or people may simply be a helpful placebo to get you working well. If you really enjoy the music or the atmosphere of your favorite coffee shop, you are getting a boost in confidence and well-being, which ultimately have the most significant effect on your performance.
In the end, the ideal noise level depends on the situation, and on your preferences. While too much noise is always going to overload your system and impair studying, how much noise you need while studying is a fairly personal choice.
If you like the noise, embrace it. If not, find yourself a nice, quiet corner. Just remember, though, there are a lot of factors that will play into whether or not it helps you study better.
Conclusion: Find Your Focus Sweet Spot
So, what’s the final word on background noise for studying? Well, like most things in life (and definitely most things in school), it depends. If you’re working through complex material or trying to memorize key facts, your brain might do better in the blissful quiet of a library—or at least with something mellow and wordless in your ears. But if you’re stuck in a motivation slump or doing something creative, that cozy café murmur or lo-fi study beat might be exactly the vibe you need to shake things loose.
The golden rule? Match your noise level to your task—and to your mood. Studying isn’t a one-size-fits-all game, and your ideal soundtrack might change depending on whether you’re cramming for a chem final or brainstorming your next big essay.
Whatever your setup looks like, make sure you’ve got the right tools to make the most of your time. (Like, say, a smart, spaced-repetition-powered flashcard app that keeps you laser-focused no matter what’s playing in the background. Cough cough, Brainscape.)
So hit play, pause, or mute—just make sure you’re doing what helps you study best.
Sources
Lesiuk, T. (2005). The effect of music listening on work performance. Psychology of music, 33(2), 173-191. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0305735605050650
Mehta, R., Zhu, R., & Cheema, A. (2012). Is noise always bad? Exploring the effects of ambient noise on creative cognition. Journal of Consumer Research, 39(4), 784-799. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/665048
Melamed, S., Fried, Y., & Froom, P. (2001). The interactive effect of chronic exposure to noise and job complexity on changes in blood pressure and job satisfaction: A longitudinal study of industrial employees. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 6(3), 182-195. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/1076-8998.6.3.182
Perham, N. & Vizard, J. (2011). Can preference for background music mediate the irrelevant sound effect?. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 25(4), 625-631. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.1731