Get in the Flow

In a creative slump? Check out our curated list of immersive audiovisual experiences!

and

Feb 05, 2024

There are two types of people in the world: those who enjoy background noises and those who don’t. While some find that the low hum of a television or radio enhances their work experience, others prefer the sound of silence.

When a steady stream of stimuli bombards our minds—especially intrusive emotions and thoughts—but we crave focus, a little distraction might be necessary.

This looks different for everyone. Some people light an aromatic candle, play their favorite record, or luxuriate in the feel of a steaming mug of coffee. Activating either of these senses—smell, sound, or touch—may create an immersive atmosphere. I’ve found that a curated space opens the door to achieving a “flow state.”

What kind of environment do you thrive in?

Leave a comment

The task doesn’t matter. I could be designing, reading, writing, or designing, but there has to be ambient sound. I’m not a musician, but there’s something special about creating to a pulsing beat. It often feels like my brain waves magically move in sync with it.

Some experts theorize that background noises can improve cognitive performance, relieve stress, and elevate mood.

For these very reasons, I’ve created playlists for almost every occasion:

In college, film scores or classical music helped me get in the zone. Thanks to The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks, the hours I spent studying, researching, or composing essays flew by.
When I need extra motivation at the gym, I play my favorite dance music. Hello, Daft Punk! The hypnotic lyrics and rhythms push me to reach higher, hold longer, or lift heavier.
Before a long drive into the city, I set the right musical mood. Don’t be surprised if you find me singing along to artists like Phoenix, Arctic Monkeys, Gwen Stefani, or The Killers…
My favorite reason to design playlists? For projects. If I’m drafting a novel or screenplay, one of the first things I do is compile songs that invoke the story’s main themes or character’s inner thoughts and desires.

It’s important to note that chronic exposure to loud sounds (e.g., 85–90 decibels) can have negative consequences. Aside from hearing loss, this habit can contribute to increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant levels in various brain regions.1 This is why many researchers argue that humans require periods of uninterrupted silence to regenerate new brain cells.

However, there are studies that prove how the right balance of ambient sound can promote “distracted focus,” which fosters creativity.

“A paper published late last year in the Journal of Consumer Research, argues that the ideal work environment for creative projects should contain a little bit of background noise. A team of researchers, led by Ravi Mehta at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tested the effects of varying levels of noise on participants’ creative thinking skills. Specifically, they separated the participants into four groups and asked all four groups to complete a Remote Associates Test, a commonly used test of creative thinking that asks test-takers to find the relationship between a series of words that appear unrelated. Each of the groups was subjected to a different level of background noise (50 decibels, 70 decibels, 85 decibels, and total silence). When they scored each person’s test, the researchers found that those in the 70 decibel group, exposed to a moderate level of ambient noise, significantly out-performed those in the other three groups. The background noise boosted their creative thinking.”
-David Burkus for Behance2

Of course, this is only one study, but the results are promising! To put them into perspective, 70 decibels is as loud as a washing machine or dishwasher. A normal conversation hovers around 60 decibels, while a hairdryer lands at 90 decibels.

If you need a virtual escape, the below-listed audiovisual experiences—with moderate levels of ambient noise—may be the answer. Whenever I’m reading my favorite fantasy novel, they provide the most soothing backdrops: