One of the great feats of my 20s was learning to enjoy life without music. I haven’t had a Spotify account since 2017.
Despite this, I probably spend at least half my waking hours listening to music. Most of the time, it’s a deliberate choice. There’s always the right song at the right time. Music is probably my biggest productivity enhancer.
Whether it’s an instrumental piece to set the tone during creative work or a hype song to get through a boring task, for me, the right level of hum in the background is rarely zero—but its volume surely matters.
When I get to a difficult paragraph in an article, I might lower the sound level from 50% down to 30% or even just 10%. Sometimes, I hit mute altogether. In writing my book, I’ve had many sessions where I’ve dialed the volume down, up, down, and up again—all within a single chapter.
Music is both amazing art and a useful tool. But in critical moments, you still need to be able to hear your own thoughts. When music feels like it’s drowning them out or trying to push them aside, lower the volume. Listening is a virtue, and while songs are some of the greatest vibrations to grace our ears, the most important sound to listen to will always be your own.
