Comments on: Music for Getting Things Done

By: Jon Peltier

Jon Peltier — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:20:10 +0000

For nearly a month I’ve been listening to the Modern Fingerstyle while working, thanks to your suggestion. It is great background, lightens the mood without distraction.

Great idea, thanks for posting.

By: Cyril

Cyril — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:20:46 +0000

When I want to avoid interruptions from the outside world I use white noise or natural sounds. If you are interested here are some links.

By: Flamenco Dancing Guitar and Cajon Spanish Music » Blog Archive » Music for Getting Things Done

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:42:51 +0000

[...] for Getting Things Done Jose Tanaka wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptModern Fingerstyle Guitar; Flamenco [...]

By: The Best of What’s Around, #6 - The 2.0 Life

The Best of What’s Around, #6 - The 2.0 Life — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:16:46 +0000

[...] GTD Times- “Music For Getting Things Done” [...]

By: John B. Kendrick

John B. Kendrick — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:43:11 +0000

Sorry, it must be an over 50 thing, but I need quiet to focus. I love music and could work to it when I was younger, but it doesn’t work for my anymore.

BTW, did you check out David’s feature in the premier issue of Productive! magazine. Its just been released, and has 17 great articles on productivity, in addition to the interview with David. I’ve posted a link to the free premier November issue at
http://johnkendrick.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/john-kendrick-online-featured-in-productive-magazine/
John

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:09:19 +0000

Baroque music defocuses my mind from the noise in cubicle land and keeps my workflow paced. It’s the only style of classical that seems to do the trick, though.

By: Shel Horowitz

Shel Horowitz — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:47:36 +0000

Wide range from classical to Stones to afropop. Depends on the writing task. I love Pandora; iTunes shuffle makes me crazy, though.

By: Stephen Collins

Stephen Collins — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:20:52 +0000

The thing I find most – if the music is direct from the machine I’m working on, I’m massively distracted. I always use the Mac Mini theater PC in the other room for music.

By: Maia Beatty

Maia Beatty — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:42:11 +0000

This is a wonderful discussion! As a “high-functioning” ADHD person myself (and I like to think of us as “Hunter Brains” in a world set up for “Farmer Brains”…so all the qualities we have that make it ABSOLUTE MISERY to work on tasks at a computer without the focusing track of “the right music” are the very same ones that make us extraordinarily skilled in our professions‚Ä¶)

Thank you for the pointing to Pandora – I have been on Music Sojourn, which is mostly very good, until a recent glitch when I got a new hard drive. I’m off to Pandora to check it out!

Meanwhile, thanks for the laughing (out LOUD) as I read this column. You made my day (and I am almost done with a transcription that will be wonderful when I finish it, despite practically being the death of me this afternoon). Reading it gave me that final jolt of energy I needed to finish my last three pages!

By: Scott Allen

Scott Allen — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:47:37 +0000

Hmm… I could see maybe chorals in Latin or German or something. Might have to try that. I’ve played around with some others, like Last.fm, but can’t seem to get the stations as well-refined as I can with Pandora.

By: Rich Tatum

Rich Tatum — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:37:09 +0000

Brilliant! I suffer the same… :: rushing to get Pandora hooked up ::

Rich
BlogRodent

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:29:07 +0000

I’ve also enjoyed last.fm. Anyone tried nature sounds as a form of musical background? Can’t be long before someone will sell a recording of Starbucks sounds for those who can only work in that environment.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:22:41 +0000

Years ago, a coworker announced that the only proper music for painting or major housework was…bluegrass string bands.

He’s right. I’ve painted the same bathroom with and without string band accompaniment, and without it, it took longer, it took more coats, I got frustrated more quickly and easily, and in general it wasn’t any fun.

Notably, neither of us typically listens to string bands in “real life,” but for painting, it hits the spot.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:06:19 +0000

I had a similar sort of mindset and about January of last year had to start handling all the RFPs for my company in the midst of an open sales floor. For a guy who is used to working alone this was a horrible proposition. Consequently I dove into the music of Rodrigo y Gabriella; the fast pace and the beat ended up being a pairing which was extraordinarily productive for me, and lacked as you said vocals. I’ve found some ambient and light techno that works also, but nothing that works quite as well as that does .

By: Patrix

Patrix — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:20:12 +0000

Funny enough, chorals work for me quite well.

PS: As for the Pandora lists: “We are deeply, deeply sorry to say that due to licensing constraints, we can no longer allow access to Pandora for listeners located outside of the U.S.”. Oh well…

By: Flamenco Dancing Guitar and Cajon Spanish Music » Blog Archive » Music for Getting Things Done | GTD Times

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:24:33 +0000

[...] for Getting Things Done | GTD Times unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptAnd if you don‚Äôt like them, you can [...]

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:20:58 +0000

Definitely modern jazz. Not like the “contemporary jazz” radio stations, but like Charlie Hunter; Stanton Moore; and Medeski Martin and Wood. I could work all day to that stuff.

By: Skip Reardon

Skip Reardon — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:07:17 +0000

Scott,

From one music lover to another -thank you for your discovery, insights and contribution.

All the best to you!

Skip

By: Kelly Youngberg

Kelly Youngberg — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:52:44 +0000

I've got a station on Pandora I call Writing Radio that works for me, but I'm looking forward to trying yours.

By: Damon Clinkscales

Damon Clinkscales — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:48:31 +0000

Here's a post I did earlier this year which collected some chill / focus music wisdom from my Twitter followers.