Live data from Hacker News

Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

ekin.substack.com

111–120 of 158 posts

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#111

I think some background noise reduces distractions, because it causes our noticing apparatus to raise it's alert threshold, and we no longer notice every tiny micro-noise.

this is good. routine, easy-to-ignore, regular noise as a mechanism to relatively suppress distracting, oddball noises.

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like you guys haven't established any work boundaries. It can be impossible if both of you work. But if not.... I've worked at home for about 17 years now. I have a 6 year old, two 3 year olds, and my wife is a stay at home mom. I don't get interrupted, and there's never been an age range where I would regularly get interrupted. At the most frequent, maybe once per week. Definitely not even once per day though…

You may have established boundaries, but you almost certainly have your wife to thank for 99% of the enforcement of them.

Reminds me of a coworker that had a baby at the same time as me and my wife. He was shocked at how poorly ours was sleeping, as his slept all night. Then at the holiday party, we remarked to his wife how nice it must be. She laughed and laughed. Turns out she was getting up multiple times every night while he slept all night, oblivious.

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like you guys haven't established any work boundaries. It can be impossible if both of you work. But if not.... I've worked at home for about 17 years now. I have a 6 year old, two 3 year olds, and my wife is a stay at home mom. I don't get interrupted, and there's never been an age range where I would regularly get interrupted. At the most frequent, maybe once per week. Definitely not even once per day though…

You may have established boundaries, but you almost certainly have your wife to thank for 99% of the enforcement of them.

I'm not sure why, but this feels like an accusatory response and uncharitable take on their statement.

Establishing boundaries like "don't interrupt the person who's working" needs to be a discussion that happens between the whole family. Of course, the caregiver will be responsible for the physical enforcement but the caregiver should understand that it is in the long-term best interest of the whole family that the worker is able to have uninterrupted work time.

Also, by the age of 4 most kids are capable of understanding and learning to respect boundaries.

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this why I have my best thoughts in the shower?

I prefer to call it the personal wet meditation chamber

That's a lovely phrase. I actually use showertime to observe a different aspect of the sensory experience everyday; the touch of the water as it moves around, the sounds of water and soapbar moving, etc. On some days it can be a complete break from thinking about anything and just observing this flow.

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You may have established boundaries, but you almost certainly have your wife to thank for 99% of the enforcement of them.

To pile a bit on the parent's take, I think it's just hell if none can set boundaries. During the stay home period it meant for us that everyday we scheduled who does 100% work at what time, and who takes care of the rest in the meantime (might mean light work while looking after things) That meant switching back and forth the roles about once or twice everyday, including when the other needs to cook or go to groceri…

> In this respect, I think there is just no way to have both parents 100% working at home with a kid needing attention

We were able to achieve this during covid with two kids doing distance learning as well. However, we were extremely fortunate that we were able to do shifts where my wife worked 7-3ish and I worked 3-midnight.

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You may have established boundaries, but you almost certainly have your wife to thank for 99% of the enforcement of them.

I'm not sure why, but this feels like an accusatory response and uncharitable take on their statement. Establishing boundaries like "don't interrupt the person who's working" needs to be a discussion that happens between the whole family. Of course, the caregiver will be responsible for the physical enforcement but the caregiver should understand that it is in the long-term best interest of the whole family that the…

I didn't take it that way. They're just pointing out that it's impossible to set those boundaries with young children. The poster they're replying to has a full time stay-at-home spouse providing for the kids during the day so they don't have to be interrupted, yet they're implying it's something that anyone could easily do. A 4 year old might not be capable of leaving you alone for a solid hour as time seems to pass glacially slow to someone at that age. Telling them to leave you alone for an hour is like telling your wife to leave you alone for 48 hours.

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You may have established boundaries, but you almost certainly have your wife to thank for 99% of the enforcement of them.

Was about to say, it's very easy to establish boundaries if you have someone enforcing them for you

The boundary that the OP needs to enforce is actually with the caregiver more than the children (although even young children are capable of learning and respecting boundaries). The caregiver needs to buy into the fact that it's beneficial for the bread winner of the family to have uninterrupted work periods.

When I read your statement it feels like you're saying you think the OP is just throwing proclamations over the wall rather than sitting down and having a family discussion about how to ensure the day is arranged in everyone's best interest.

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure why, but this feels like an accusatory response and uncharitable take on their statement. Establishing boundaries like "don't interrupt the person who's working" needs to be a discussion that happens between the whole family. Of course, the caregiver will be responsible for the physical enforcement but the caregiver should understand that it is in the long-term best interest of the whole family that the…

I didn't take it that way. They're just pointing out that it's impossible to set those boundaries with young children. The poster they're replying to has a full time stay-at-home spouse providing for the kids during the day so they don't have to be interrupted, yet they're implying it's something that anyone could easily do. A 4 year old might not be capable of leaving you alone for a solid hour as time seems to pass…

> yet they're implying it's something that anyone could easily do

I don't think they're implying that. In fact they said "It can be impossible if both of you work" which you can extrapolate to "It can be impossible if you're the sole caregiver".

Of course if you are the only person home, you can't expect a 4 year old to let you work uninterrupted for long stretches of time. I don't see anyone trying to argue that point of view though (certainly I would never say that).

Post reply on HN