Oddly enough, a room full of people working, like in a café or library, doesn’t distract me at all. But family talking on the phone or just moving around the house does. Maybe it’s because our home is smaller. Maybe it’s because the noise feels closer, more directed, or unpredictable. Whatever the reason, it irritates me more than it “should,” and that irritation makes it harder to focus.
I have three different pairs of headphones specifically for studying, including noise-canceling ones, but they’re not that noise-canceling. I still end up asking everyone to be quieter while I try to study. I’m trying to navigate all of this with a level head, because when I’m stressed or anxious, I can’t think clearly enough to find solutions.
So, as we all start our New Year’s resolutions and endeavor to be better friends, partners, people, students, financial stewards, workers, entrepreneurs, etc., I wanted to share some of the ideas I plan to implement to improve studying at home, especially when it’s noisy.
💡 Ideas to Improve Studying at Home (When It’s Noisy)
1. Take advantage of an empty house.
My family isn’t home 24/7. When they go out for errands, the house becomes perfectly quiet, ideal for focused sessions like practice tests or question blocks, whether long or short. I can communicate with them about when they plan to be out and use those windows strategically.
2. Early-morning (or late-night) study sessions.
People are generally quieter in the mornings, and there’s something peaceful about studying while everyone else is asleep. If I set things up the night before, I can wake up and get straight into studying before the noise starts. If you’re a night owl or only have time in the evenings, studying when everyone is asleep can be just as effective. For best results, complete or set up your nighttime routine so you can wind down quietly once you’re done studying.
3. Use sound as a buffer, not just to hide noise, but to trick your brain.
Sometimes it’s not the noise itself that’s distracting, but the brain’s attempt to analyze it. Our brains are designed to detect anything that might be important. Playing white noise, rain sounds, instrumentals, or gentle music can turn a loud home into manageable background noise. It doesn’t need to be loud, just consistent.
4. Make studying a game that tunes your focus.
Oddly enough, when I play games on my phone, I can focus extremely well, probably because games are designed to hold our attention. So I’ve been asking myself how I can replicate that for studying.
One idea is to create small “dopamine hits,” such as:
- A sip of caffeine after every five questions
- A short walk after a tough hour of studying
- Scheduling something enjoyable immediately after a study block
Rewarding myself turns studying from something I dread into something I can start and finish more easily.
5. Use your family as study helpers.
If people are going to be around, they might as well help. During my first year of medical school, I often used my family as pretend patients to practice diagnosis. This can extend to asking family members to help with flashcards, even if all they do is hold them up. Small interactions like these can keep you engaged and make studying feel less isolating.
6. Ask for quiet time in the house.
All of my other advice focuses on adapting to noise, but I don’t have to do it alone. My family wants me to do well, so it’s okay to ask directly for quiet time. Even if they can’t be silent the entire time, asking for designated quiet blocks reminds me of when I was younger and some of my family worked nights. We agreed on windows of quiet during the day so they could rest. This is a similar idea.
These tips are helpful for anyone, but especially for those whose study environments are heavily constrained. Finding a place outside the home can be time-consuming and expensive, so having workable at-home alternatives matters.
What do you think? If you had to study at home, would these tips be helpful?
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