Ask HN: Fighting (YouTube) Music Addiction?
I've been listening to music while working, and it's been hurting my performance. When I turn it off, I'm left with either a void of no thoughts and some anxiety or background thoughts either racing.
Do you listen to music with lyrics? Replacing it with ambient music with no words and no distinctive melody could be one solution.
Or, in my opinion, a better solution would be to dig deeper and to find out why silence causes you anxiety and discomfort. For hundreds of thousands of years people have worked in complete silence. Are you mentally avoiding something?
Additionally, look into symptoms of adult ADHD. The problem may be larger than not having music, your brain may be constantly craving stimulation that can never be fully satiated.
Definitely not encouraging meds, but there is a world of coping mechanisms that you could put in place to help you focus.
Do things to practice being alone with your own thoughts, and when you do, don't identify with them just... observe.
I tried cutting out music/youtube entirely but I feel odd without music. I tried using ear plugs instead, and it kind of helps just having something in my ears. I still have no perfect solution.
Music is great--doesn't matter whether YouTube or otherwise. Do what's good for your mental health