What is the best way you suggest in maintaining focus? Especially when I am trying to do chess exercises, and the computer is in the kitchen?

There is yelling, and a high pitch sound from my brother, which is supposedly adolescent (he is 43).

He an my mom both annoy me, and they both pile into the kitchen to make whatever, and they just scream at each other.

What is the best way to maintain focus? It's difficult.

However, I can't say anything about it.

This will go along with my studies by the way, since the computer can't be moved downstairs, because then it will just be my brother.

Sorry for venting, and complaining.

Good quality, sound-blocking headphones.

My family can cut right through them. My mom keeps saying 'We have every right to be in the kitchen, so we can live.'

That is the biggest copout that I have ever heard of. I've asked for quiet in the past, but she repeats the party line about 'living' in the kitchen.

I found some here:

<a>https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Safety-Muffs-Decibel-Defense/dp/B07PXNKJ2M?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JOcYb_40xyds4uwqgQJj3Z5PvBt28nZGCYFmrDzFUW2tTPTr-9aafD-eXmyyECzF1qgeFXyh7fIRLOxYLapRn2LvA2kVUCCPKIIiFZAxz2Cs0jca7owQMsy-cYFSapOJ4Q7qgbpqJ64bNyxflRfuC78SDVy50MSjrYsrpwBljMP_6ft3ikgSluVBu8JLpEcoml__d0C5MWTaOI8pZoSjE7r0IzxkqA8LyLvzofFEtxyQUy2LyjJnL4lK--AUW4yDueSNGcLGMHTgt1-QyCg324cNfWUYI4nanGpaOl8lN6IvsYsKo9WG6moPahwdx6JXpdSIyJ21t-2Hr2k-JYcvCL-Y96Rlnhzbne7jTGJ6kpGaK1xf8WcTTNYS1aV3OSUlaq_mazGv3JOFTczxDxOI8AaFsqwIYH8c7YDn2xnQH2CdoQV2FvNWfOtMGVbKhN3G.DqDFe_qvSDnoG7d1uRnu6dJoUxSDOhU2OkzQGQuJl-E&dib_tag=se&keywords=professional%2Bsafety%2Bmuffs%2Bdecibel%2Bdefense&qid=1736626081&sr=8-5&th=1</a>;

Frequent flyers would know, because they use them all the time to avoid the chatter of their seat-mates. You might have a look at the Bose sound-blocking headphones.

OK. I will see what Amazon has as far as Bose. Most of the ones that are sound-blocking, are for autistic people, but I chose this one for the sound blocking on a really big level.

I just prefer quiet, and my regular over the ear headphones are noise cancelling, not sound blocking. I would be better off doing what I can to make sure things are quiet. But when you have family members want to make noise to throw you off (which I think is happening) Maybe I'm being paranoid.

Update:

Bose is way expensive.. out of my pay grade!

I am looking for sound blocking headphones right now. I mostly want them, not for music, but for quiet, so I can hear myself think.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/11/2025 06:34PM by lousyleper.

3M "WorkTones" are superb, block out nearby leaf blowers and other gas-operated machinery. They have bluetooth so you can pipe in music or whatever. They fit kind of tight, but they're very effective.

I also recommend Apple Earpods pro-2, which have excellent noise cancellation. If you have an Apple phone, they also serve as minor hearing aids--but not with Android.

I have severe ADHD, so I can offer no advice, only sympathy

I am going to need a bunch of this, quiet, for school. I hope to find some headphones or sound blocking somewhere. It's OK, cludgie. I don't have ADHD, and I can sympathize with you. Everyone will be free of all the noise that the world makes. Eventually.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/12/2025 04:13PM by lousyleper.

Leper, Some of those ear muffs get really uncomfortable after an hour or so of use.

Have you considered a foam ear plug? We sell thousands of these at the store every year to landscapers, tree cutters etc.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=foam+ear+plugs&crid=1KESIWCWM424F&sprefix=foam+ear+plugs%2Caps%2C157&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

I use them mostly for sleeping. But I had to admit the 'loudness' that I experience during the night, is actually my illness. But the sound in the kitchen is real. I will try to use the ear plugs I have, because honestly, I had never thought of it.

Thanks for the reminder that they can be used somewhere else other than sleep.

Not just noise cancelling, but noise blocking headphones for powertools and such like isotunes

Sport Tactical 500.

https://www.amazon.com/Peltor-Electronic-Protector-Bluetooth-Protection/dp/B06W56YRWJ/

For about 150. Designed for target shooting level noise blocking loudness. I believe this would be overkill... but it'll be really really quiet, which would be good for me, while reading textbooks for my degrees.

Since everything is online, it'll be good for Bluetooth use also. A bunch of my classes have video/audio, which I process best out of the learning lifestyles.

I'll have to try wearing my earplugs upstairs while studying. And then I can try the headphones. The headphones, are designed for power tools, mowing, and everything outside that is loud. Which would be way useful also.

PS: the 3M WorkTunes can be had for about $60 on Amazon. If they don't work, you can always return them.

The Mack's are very very good as earplugs. I'll do some readups on the 3M you suggested.

UPDATE:

I see the 3M WorkTunes, and the Bluetooth option. My current headphones are Bluetooth. Good quality. The ones I would end up getting is the 45 buck ones, even though I don't really need the AM/FM tuning.

Here's what I am seeing:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0723CYHPZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I like the way it looks! What do you think?

I've used them on a riding mower and while using a chain saw, and get my classical music just fine. I find they fit my (fat) head a bit tight, but after a little while I don't notice that. A bit warm when working outdoors in the summer. Try em--Amazon's return policy is easy-peasy.

All this is incidental to your home environment. You need to work out an arrangement where people can comfortably communicate, even argue, still keep things under control, for the sake of family harmony and your peace of mind, psychologically and academically. That needs to be your long-term agenda.

Live well, and study hard!

PS: As a septuagenarian, I'm starting college all over again--with a screenwriting course at a local university! I dismiss my first college "career" as a "B.A."--a Bachelor of Alcoholism. So have it, Not-So-Lousy Leper!

My mom has implemented a payback policy on the 5000 dollars that borrowed from her about 6 years ago. She wants her money now, so I will pay it. It'll just take me 51 weeks, and a little extra for getting it paid.

She says she needs the money to survive. I can understand. I have to help with the paper products during shopping, which I have no problem with. It's just interesting that it's come up so late. She knows I want to go back to school, but now I will have to put it on hold, because she wants to get 'caught up' on the bills.

We are not having a problem with bills. We are having problems with all the sports packages she orders. All she does is sports. That's what she's done since 2015, ever since she retired in 2015 when I had leukemia.

I really don't mind it. I owe the money, so I will pay, even though it's kinda late... by 7 years. So I will do that, work my way to discrete mathematics during the mean time, away from class. There are always Khan Academy, and other sites that have hundreds of problems. I admit I will be out of the circle with the whole work regarding tech, but it'll be good to have it accessible, I will revise my schedule, to include the level 300 courses (like AI, and others)

So, more work. I will go for my Web Development degree, and attempt to test out at the university I have chosen. It's WGU, since my sister did well there. Remember, all three degrees tie together.

I am getting a Bootcamp for Web Development (for the Web Programming degree), and a Bootcamp for Java right now (planning on taking it right after the Web Bootcamp, so I may be able to kill 2 birds with one stone, in regards to degrees). There will be others I am sure. At least I will have something to do during the whole payoff thing.

I am also going to try to move my computer downstairs to my room, after I find a suitable table to minimize my 'noise' issues.

Every single penny of mine will be gone. At least I won't be paying for crypto.



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/2025 03:03PM by lousyleper.

1) Noise cancelling headphones.
2) Sam Harris’s mindfulness meditation via the Waking Up app.
3) See an ADHD doc?