Why background noise helps you focus
The hardest sound to ignore is other people talking. Your brain automatically tries to follow speech, even when you're trying to read or write, and psychologists have shown again and again that background talk hurts concentration. A steady noise makes nearby voices less clear, so there's less for your attention to latch on to.
Noise also smooths over the small interruptions (a phone buzzing, footsteps, a kettle) and, used regularly, becomes a signal to your brain that it's time to work. Unlike music, it has no lyrics or melody competing for your attention.
Which noise for which situation?
- Open office, café or shared house with people talking: white or pink noise. They cover the frequencies speech sits in.
- Long deep-work or study sessions: pink or grey noise. Both have less hiss than white noise, so they're less tiring over a few hours.
- Quiet room but a restless, wandering mind: brown noise. Its deep rumble feels grounding without being sharp.
- Low hums, traffic or building noise: brown noise, which has the most low-frequency energy.
Suggested settings
Open any noise page and use the Sound Controls panel. These are good starting points for focus:
A simple focus routine
- Pick one task and close anything you don't need for it.
- Start your noise and set the auto-stop timer to 30 or 45 minutes.
- Work until the sound stops. When it does, that's your cue to take a 5-minute break away from the screen.
- Start the next block. After three or four blocks, take a longer break.
This is a relaxed version of the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes of work, then a short break). The noise stopping is a gentler signal than an alarm, and it doesn't break your concentration mid-thought.
Tips
- Don't play it too loud. Noise that's louder than it needs to be becomes tiring in its own right. Turn it up only until voices are hard to follow.
- Headphones help in shared spaces. Closed-back or noise-cancelling headphones let you keep the volume lower.
- Switch colours if it stops working. If you stop noticing any benefit after a few weeks, a different colour can feel fresh again.
- Keep the tab open. The sound is generated live in your browser, so closing the page stops it.
Common questions
Is music or noise better for concentration?
For reading and writing, many people find music with lyrics distracting because the words compete with the words you're working on. Instrumental music works for some people. Noise is the most neutral option: nothing to follow, nothing to get stuck in your head.
How loud should focus noise be?
Quieter than most people expect. Aim for a level where you could still hold a conversation over it without raising your voice.
Will I get used to it?
Usually within a session or two. After that, most people stop noticing the noise and only notice the quiet when it stops.