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Comment by brailsafe | Hacker News Reader

I don't mind music when the work is mundane, but I fucking hate needing to have something playing to drown out the sounds of people around me when I need to really think (best done in silence or with cafe noise for me). I honestly don't know how people actually do hard things in an office.

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3M - Peltor earmuffs/noise cancellers. I got two pairs of them, one next to the desk, one next to the bed. Anytime there is any noise that I cannot control, I put these on and (almost) everything goes away. After 30 seconds I only hear my heartbeat, and that 'goes away' after 1-2 minutes giving me (almost) total silence.

At $20, it is the best one I've tried. It is not 'active' (mic filtering & speakers), it just has good foam tech.

(not a ref link) https://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-Optime-Earmuff-H10A/dp/B007...

If you get used to the 'weight' (not that much) they are also great for your meditation time.

Oh, I tried these last year. I'm glad they work for you and I'm sure for others, but it didn't work for me. The size took a little getting used to in an office, but that was fine. They just didn't work to completely remove the eating sounds that my coworker was making on our code assembly line.

3M classic superfit 33 earplugs (33 nrr) are comfortable and quiet. I buy a box of 250 and it lasts me forever.

Good to know. I've tried other construction style 3M earmuffs that didn't come close to doing the trick.

> I honestly don't know how people actually do hard things in an office.

I close the door.

What is "door"?

This movable thing I have separating my office from the hallway.

> What is "door"?

A meeting room or a phone booth generally has a door :-)

Phone booth... ha.

Kids may only see these in classic media like the matrix, dr who or the original superman.

This guy codes.

White (or brown) noise!

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