I like reading books a lot. Usually have only time for that at night, after work, but at that time my wife likes TV a lot and specially zapping; continuously jumping from one channel to another. I hate TV, but when she zaps, given the noise and so on and the sudden changes of volume, I can hardly focus on the book. Sometimes I use headphones with loud music, but can not focus so well on novels and so although technical books work sometimes for me. Obviously I would like that both of us stay together and she likes TV, so I wonder if you could give me any hint to be able to read books in this situation.
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Maybe it's better to do your reading at another place, where you can do it fully comfortable and let your wife watch TV comfortably as well. When you are not doing something together and you don't pay attention to each other, you would only restrict (limit) each other. Then you could be bad-tempered because of bad reading condition or your wife could be annoyed, since she could not do what she wants and she could not have her comfort. Believe me, if you give yourself two hours for your hobby, and your wife will have time for her ones, it is no catastrophe, but on the contrary, then you will enjoy your time spent together better, you can then share your new feelings and experience and you will be much more happy, as if you spend two hours together, but everybody with doing something else and annoyed by conditions... |
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A teacher of a productivity workshop once taught me that listening to classical music with approximately 60 beats per minute will calm you down, improve your focus and make you more creative all at the same time. I've experimented with it myself at work (I am a programmer) and it certainly does help me focus. If you use headphones, you can also use it for your reading since the music will block out the noise from the tv. Search for music with around 60 bpm (faster music will make you more active, slower music will make you fall asleep), preferably baroque music (if you like it). Also, make sure that it doesn't contain voices/singing because that will distract you. You might want to read this blog for more info. |
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how about headphones with white noise? Bit of a google found http://cantonbecker.com/music/white-noise-sleep-sounds/mp3s.php, which appears to supply mp3s... EDIT - I've also just wandered accross this: http://simplynoise.com/, which is entirely devoted to white noise... |
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Give your wife a set of good wireless headphones that will work with your TV so that you are not disturbed!! |
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Make her a deal where you throw away the TV but she gets something else in return. |
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Two more possibilities:
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I find that breaking my reading down into small goals - say 5 pages at a time helps me focus on getting the reading done when there is noise all around me. Short goals like that allow me to accept that it's going to be almost impossible to focus for a long long time like I'd like to. After 5 pages (or however many) I take a little break - regroup - talk if need be and then get back to it. Hope that helps! |
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Earplugs will muffle a good portion of sound if it is around normal voice level. If you can wait and don't want to pay, you can get samples from hearos (takes a few weeks ) and/or purchase any brand if you think that they are helpful. They are all the same, but its helpful in muffling most voices |
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