5 Ways to Remedy Noise When You Need to Write

Because life is not always the way we want it to

I’m the kind of writer who works best in a quiet environment

An ideal situation for me is to have my own room undisturbed from outside noise and other kinds of disturbance. I need plenty of solitude to tap into my imagination and enter another world I’d like to write about.

Many times, however, our circumstances are far from ideal

We may need to find a way to work even when we can’t have the kind of environment we desire. (I’m actually in a similar situation right now as I try to write this piece.)

Below are some of the things I suggest in case you need to cope with noise while writing:

1. Use White Noise

Sometimes it takes noise to combat noise. You can use white noise for this purpose. Some people use this to mask other sounds they avoid hearing such as the constant ringing in one’s ears by those who suffer from tinnitus. Others even use it to help them sleep.

There are various apps and websites offering white noise. One example is White Noise & Co. where you can even combine different sound colors. Google Play also has various apps providing white noise.

2. Use Background Music

You can use background music to work similar to white noise to counter the irregular and unpleasant sounds you hear. You can even listen to classical music that can inspire you to write about a certain mood.

YouTube has various free music and free sound effects in its audio library from which you can choose from.

3. Make Use of the Noise as Inspiration

If you really can’t escape the noise, you can learn to make full use of it. How? You can tap unto various feelings triggered by the noise to help inspire your writing, especially if it’s a fiction like a novel. Think of scenes where the characters have to deal with a similar noisy environment. Think of the feelings often triggered by noise — irritability, anger, frustration. You can apply these feelings in troubled situations like internal battles or even actual fight scenes.

4. Use Earplugs and Headphones

Sometimes, the noise is just too much and we have to make use of our earplugs to block most of the unwanted sound away. Many times, I use this in combination with a headphone. After putting on my earplugs, I then listen to background music or white noise using my headphone. If you want, you can even turn on a speaker to add to your variety of sounds.

5. Work with Tasks Requiring Less Creativity

When you can’t tap into your creative mood, you can try doing routine and less imaginative work. You can do some light editing. You can copy and paste from your draft to your blog or website. You can create a backup of your work. Do something that can help you avoid wasting your precious time.

Final Thoughts

While we all crave for an ideal working environment, not everything will always turn out to our liking. Life is like that.

And if we use this moment of discomfort to our advantage, we can learn something not only to improve our writing but our personal lives as well.