People Whose Brains Need Noise To Focus Almost Always Have These 11 Specific Personality Traits
Dean Drobot | Shutterstock For some people, silence is absolutely needed when they're trying to focus. But for others, they find silence to be the opposite of peaceful. In fact, it can be distracting and even uncomfortable for them to be in large amounts of quiet compared to being in constant noise. While neurology experts have found that silence can actually be better for memory function and being able to recall information way more effectively, people who enjoy constant noise are just built differently.
Whether it's their creativity or tendency to overthink, people whose brains need noise to focus almost always have these specific personality traits. In fact, they find that some sort of background noise helps them process their thoughts better, organize ideas, and stay productive. They work better when there's music playing, a show blasting on TV, or a podcast coming out of their speakers. For them, quiet isn't relaxing; in fact, it's almost boring, because they need to keep their minds engaged and alive at all times.
People whose brains need noise to focus almost always have these 11 specific personality traits
1. They're creative thinkers
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Individuals who need noise to focus are often coming up with rather innovative ideas and solutions because noise unlocks their imagination. They need constant background stimulation to help with their ability to problem-solve and come up with possibilities that other people might miss from just sitting in silence.
A 2021 study has even shown that for highly original and creative thinkers, moderate level of noise happening in the background has been linked to an increase in creative performance. Noise doesn't just keep their thoughts moving, but it also helps organize their creativity in way that feels so effortless.
For creative thinkers, silence just feels like this blank wall that's blocking their imagination. They are able to thrive when their brains are being active.
2. They're daydreamers at heart
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Those that enjoy constant noise are usually the ones that have quite a rich inner world. Without noise, it can almost pull them out of their imagination a little bit. But when it's there, it keeps their creative juices flowing. They're able to really generate projects and ideas in a way that they wouldn't get if they were forced to sit in complete, utter silence.
Even the most mundane of sounds, like the clicking of their fingers against their keypad or hearing other people chatter around them in public while they're working, can be enough. It can inspire thoughts. They're just able to stay engaged rather than feeling restrictive and limited.
3. They enjoy variety
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People whose brains need noise to focus almost always enjoy variety, whether it's their daily routine, their reading list, or their tasks at work. Silence can honestly feel a bit boring for these individuals. Instead, they prefer environments that keep things interesting without derailing their focus at the same time.
They enjoy putting on a playlist where there are different mix of genres or working from different coffee shops within their workday. These small shifts can make tasks not feel as tedious as they probably are.
Without this kind of variety, their attention quickly starts to drift and motivation ends up dipping significantly. Noise puts more life back into their productivity and allow them to be fully engaged with what they're doing.
When things change, even just a little, it helps spark new, fresh ideas in their minds. Silence isn't as playful, which can make their creative thinking feel a bit forced.
4. They're easily distracted in silence
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When they're constantly surrounded by silence, the minds of people whose brains need noise to focus actually tend to wander. They can't seem to focus, and so they aren't able to complete the task at hand. Noise allows them to be a bit more stable when they're working.
While there are moments when the brain definitely needs silence, it can help decrease a person's heart rate and blood pressure, and individuals who value noise find that it sometimes does the opposite for them. Background noise feels like a bit of a mental anchor for them. It gives their brain something to latch onto. They aren't just enjoying the noise, but it's actually functional too.
5. They tend to overthink in silence
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Whenever it's quiet, these individuals tend to spiral and overanalyze everything and anything. Simple decisions can suddenly turn into a major dilemma and any minor mistake they make suddenly feel so more amplified. Background noise acts like a buffer. It allows their brain to focus on the task they're doing rather than their thoughts just spiraling out of control.
Even the smallest of tasks can feel harder to do without some sort of noise happening. Writing an email, cooking, and cleaning their space means they need to have something on in the background just to get it done.
Noise provides a bit of structure for them, whereas silence causes them to really shrink into themselves. It's not that they're trying to avoid being alone with their thoughts, but just that sometimes it can end up doing more harm than good.
6. They're good at juggling multiple tasks
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Being good at multitasking doesn't mean that they're scattered individuals. Noise just gives them the energy they need to move from one task to the other. They can respond quickly to any kind of interruptions without panicking because their attention is able to flow across many different areas.
Silence, on the other hand, can make it harder for them to move quickly. Their mind just feels stuck rather than being able to think properly and get things done quicker.
"There is no doubt that when doing both tasks at the same time, one cannot be as efficient in each task as when doing them separately. But if we think about overall efficiency, considering the importance of the tasks and the time constraints, then the answer is not as clear," psychology professor Nicolas Davidenko explained.
They're also able to prioritize things right on the fly. Even when several things are happening at once, they know exactly what needs their attention first. Constant noise doesn't ever make them feel overwhelmed. For some people, they need silence to get through tasks because if they have noise, they get easily distracted. But, for those that value constant noise, it's the complete opposite.
7. They crave movement
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If you're around someone that enjoys background noise, you may notice that they're usually quite fidgety. They can never be sitting still for more than one second. The craving for movement isn't just physical, it's mental too. Their thoughts jump from idea to idea and silence can make that process hard to do.
People whose brains need noise to focus almost always crave movement, because noise allows them to stay in motion so much more easily than being in complete silence. They're energized by changes in their environment and any minor one immediately captures their attention. And, suddenly, they're alert.
Their brains just enjoy being able to shift and pivot whenever. Being in a lively space allows them to bounce around different ideas and truly enter a flow-state where they're able to really focus and get the things they need to get done, done.
8. They're spontaneous and impulsive
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These individuals often make the quickest decisions based on their own instincts. They thrive in environments that are lively and sometimes even unpredictable because it matches exactly how their minds operate.
Background noise fuels their impulsive nature, giving them enough energy to be able to act quickly without overthinking at all. Silence, on the other hand, can feel cause indecision to creep in because they're left with just their thoughts.
"The delights of spontaneity are among the simplest but most valuable of pleasures. And in our stressed-out, over-scheduled, over-committed lives, it’s easy to feel wistful about how elusive those simple pleasures can be," pointed out philosophy professor Katherine Hawley.
Background noise allows them to really seize opportunities and find that momentum. They are also just comfortable with being able to experiment with new methods or ideas. Silence can just feel restrictive at times and almost stifles their curiosity. At the end of the day, they're just fun, engaging people and noise is the thing that really helps spark ideas and drive them into action.
9. They're sensitive to mental boredom
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People whose brains need noise to focus almost always are sensitive to mental boredom. Their brains are just constantly craving stimulation, and when it's missing, their attention drifts almost immediately.
Background noise gives them the spark they need to get things done. Boredom isn't just annoying, but it absolutely ruins their focus. If a room is just completely silent, their mind starts trying to find entertainment somewhere else, which can lead to distraction.
It's not that they're craving chaos, but they just need a bit of high energy to keep their brains moving. Without it, simple projects can feel so slow. Noise helps them stay alert and on top of their responsibilities
10. They're emotionally expressive
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These individuals often experience their feelings quite intensely and are able to articulate them vividly as well. Being in silence can overwhelm them rather than allowing them to focus. Their excitement, passion, alongside their frustrations are felt fully at all times. Noise gives them a bit of a safe space to release and process their feelings without getting stuck in their own head.
At the same time, they use their emotions to fuel their creativity and come to solutions needed to create and follow-through on their ideas. Several studies, including one published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, have found that nothing good comes from suppressing emotions either, as it can decrease being able to experience positive experiences.
That's why these individuals don't enjoy sitting in silence when working through the feelings they have, both negative and positive.
11. They're resistant to monotony
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Being in repetitive environments can feel torturous for people who enjoy constant noise. Their brains crave stimulation because of how it helps them stay engaged. If they're not being exposed to variation, their focus starts slipping fast. It's why these individuals enjoy constant change and being able to try new things. They're constantly looking for the next, best thing.
"People seek out novelty and excitement. We explore, discover, and create. At the same time, we all experience moments of boredom. Whether it's during a long meeting, a tedious task, or a lazy afternoon, boredom can have negative effects on our mood or energy levels and leaves us feeling unfulfilled," explained neuroscience experts Patricia Lockwood and Jo Cutler.
Staying the same and not growing at all just doesn't interest them in the slightest. They prefer dynamic environments and having constant background noise because it just helps them think clearly and just be extremely motivated. Without it, they're stuck having to repeat the same ideas over and over again.
Nia Tipton is a staff writer with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and journalism who covers news and lifestyle topics that focus on psychology, relationships, and the human experience.
