What is your opinion on watching TV while doing homework

[land_of_ice]

Do you feel as though it is a good idea or not?
In other words do you feel as though it's fine to watch / listen to the TV while you do any type of homework at all?

 

[DivisionByZro]

My rules (For myself):

Nothing in the background; no movies, no TV, no people, sometimes cats (I have no choice!)

Only some special types of music: Classical or instrumental, very low volume.

I don't even have TV, so that's not hard.

Basically I want all of my brain to be directed towards what I'm doing, I don't need any "filling" sound like movies, a lot of people seem to need that though.

I also only ever do homework on graph paper with no holes in the margins.

 

[land_of_ice]

My rules (For myself):

Nothing in the background; no movies, no TV, no people, sometimes cats (I have no choice!)

Only some special types of music: Classical or instrumental, very low volume.

I don't even have TV, so that's not hard.

Basically I want all of my brain to be directed towards what I'm doing, I don't need any "filling" sound like movies, a lot of people seem to need that though.

I also only ever do homework on graph paper with no holes in the margins.

Very nice

 

[fluidistic]

No TV for me. I find it extremely hard to concentrate on solving exercises when I hear a TV in the background. Watching it would mean I'm not even thinking about my homework.

 

[gb7nash]

I'm used to multitasking. Sometimes I'd watch tv or chat with friends while doing homework. (not recommended)

 

[diligence]

Do you feel as though it is a good idea or not?

Ummm, is this a rhetorical question? Because obviously the answer is no if we're talking about math or physics homework. Maybe it's fine for other subjects that don't require as much brainpower, but I mean, c'mon, does this even need to be hashed out?

 

[Null_]

I do occasionally watch a show (on my second computer monitor) while I'm doing chemistry homework, but never for math or physics. I find that if I try watching something while doing homework that involves thinking, I neither perform well or enjoy the show. I have tested that it takes me just as long to do my work THEN watch the show as it takes me to do my work while watching the amount of shows needed to complete the assignment.

I used to only listen to classical music while doing work, but became reliant on it and could not focus when it came test time. I now listen to an assortment of music with lyrics (Pandora) so that I can practice tuning out noise.

 

[lisab]

Ummm, is this a rhetorical question? Because obviously the answer is no if we're talking about math or physics homework. Maybe it's fine for other subjects that don't require as much brainpower, but I mean, c'mon, does this even need to be hashed out?

This is my experience as well. For busywork, it's fine to have something else going on. But for the kind of work that leaves you actually tired from thinking so much, no distractions!

I think a lot of high school homework is busywork, so students get into the habit of having TV/music/whatever going in the back ground. I think it would be in their best interest to drop that habit before taking the really tough courses.

 

[Leptos]

It's not a good idea. For many people in math and physics, things like watching TV aren't important in the same sense as our education, but rather they are used to cope with anxiety. I too have an issue with anxiety, but I get myself to study and do homework with no distractions and 100% focus by doing jumping jacks and push ups every time I feel too anxious to get to work. It turns out this works very well for me since it also helps oxygen get to my brain

 

[erok81]

I can't read a textbook while watching TV. I have to have it off for that. If I am just doing problem sets I almost always watch/listen to TV. I can't stand it being quiet. And music I'll just sit there and change stations and not do homework. For some reason I can put on a movie and just leave it.

 

[Angry Citizen]

I think if it works for you, then it works for you. It doesn't for me. I prefer to put on a good death, doom or black metal album. If a TV is on, or someone is talking in the next room, I'm distracted beyond all hope.

 

[Drakkith]

TV, nope, Music, maybe. I find it helps keep me from getting distracted if I have some music to listen too. (Usually. Sometimes it doesn't help, but i just have to judge it myself at the time)

 

[viscousflow]

My rules (For myself):

Nothing in the background; no movies, no TV, no people, sometimes cats (I have no choice!)

Only some special types of music: Classical or instrumental, very low volume.

I don't even have TV, so that's not hard.

Basically I want all of my brain to be directed towards what I'm doing, I don't need any "filling" sound like movies, a lot of people seem to need that though.

I also only ever do homework on graph paper with no holes in the margins.

I second this. This is how I do my homework too. I only have on my computer and music I can concentrate with. Especially since the type of work/homework I do usually requires hours of full concentration. It always pays off.

 

[ahsanxr]

I think if it works for you, then it works for you. It doesn't for me. I prefer to put on a good death, doom or black metal album. If a TV is on, or someone is talking in the next room, I'm distracted beyond all hope.

Physics AND metal? This man knows his stuff :P

For me I like to listen to music when its things like Calculus which don't take much thinking and are just cranking out a bunch of integrals and what not. For Physics and harder math which requires more thinking, I prefer to have it quiet.

 

[lurky]

No TV.

I have a bit of a rule of thumb that comes from experience... I find that if, once I get busy on a problem, I tune out whatever the background noise is, then it needs to be turned off. You may think "but if you can tune it out, then that's good, right?" Nope! It means it's at a level where it will be distracting during those moments when I pull back from the problem, like when I'm finished one and about to move onto another or when I need to take a small break or something. It's harder to get back on task with the noise going.

Sometimes I have to work with the TV going, though, otherwise who would babysit my kid? Ahem...

 

[land_of_ice]

It's not a good idea. For many people in math and physics, things like watching TV aren't important in the same sense as our education, but rather they are used to cope with anxiety. I too have an issue with anxiety, but I get myself to study and do homework with no distractions and 100% focus by doing jumping jacks and push ups every time I feel too anxious to get to work. It turns out this works very well for me since it also helps oxygen get to my brain

aw! that sounds sweet , yeah that surely must work :) thanks for sharing it makes a lot of sense

 

[capandbells]

I can't do homework if I don't have the TV on. I get very bored very quickly. Then again, I'm a product of the internet in that I need to be constantly multitasking or I can't accomplish anything.

 

[toxicity_27]

I can't read and have the TV on, though while doing homework I can, though it does distract me. Usually I put on light classical music.