My Struggle with Focus and How I Discovered Endel
Within my academic career, I discovered that music, studying, and I, do not mix. It has always been a struggle for me to fully dial in and focus on a task for a few hours without unplanned breaks. I would catch myself reaching for my phone, looking at my surroundings, and bopping to tunes. I tried a variety of genres recommended by my friends that were deemed ideal for studying. Those include jazz, classical, house, and some R&B artists as well. Although these are probably among the best genres for studying, they did not work for me. I shifted to silent study sessions to see if that would make a difference in my productivity, and it did, but I quickly realized I needed some sort of noise-blocking mechanism to focus.
In the first semester of my first year at Carleton, I was browsing through different methods of study and how people online keep consistent focus. That was when I discovered Endel. This free app was founded in 2018, not too long ago, however not many people know it exists which is a shame because it has become a staple in my study routine. Although there is a premium option for an annual fee of $70, there are more than enough soundtracks provided in the free version.
What is Endel?
Endel creates endless, personalized sounds for a variety of different scenarios to help users focus, relax, and sleep. Once you’ve downloaded the app, it takes you through a series of questions to gauge your focus, study habits, and sleep habits to evaluate what soundscapes might be best for you. This generative music app creates a personalized sound environment that matches the task I am handling, which is typically reading or writing. When you first open the app, there are four soundscapes: Focus, Relax, Sleep, and Activity (available in the app).
I predominantly use the Focus soundscape, which has five different sound scenarios within it: Deep Work, Homework, Create, Read, and Commute. Within all these scenarios, you can choose a focus timer of how long you would like the track to play. I typically pick around 40 minutes to an hour at a time. This allows me to take healthy breaks. My favourite audio is Deep Work. It consists of soothing beats and tunes that allow my thoughts to flow. Each time you pick the scenario, it is a different sound pattern based on neuroscientific principles that create a personalized sound for maximum productivity. The generative music helps with blocking out exterior noise, as working in silence tends to cause my thoughts to jump from one topic to another, so it has been very helpful to have a consistent soundscape in my ear.
Endel also has soundtracks for daily tasks like self-care, yoga, commuting, powernap and more! With all the scenarios, personal soundscapes are provided to help with consistent focus. Endel’s generative music is a series of beats and soothing noises that help with blocking out exterior noise. Each scenario has different beats and sound patterns that have truly enhanced my study sessions. Endel is now the only soundtrack I can listen to for productivity, and I believe it is much more effective than a silent study session.
After a long day of studying, I like to wind down with the Spa Scenario. This truly feels like you’re in a spa with the soothing tones that motivate my skincare routine.
Final Thoughts
It is fair to say that I am a firm believer in Endel playing a huge part in improving the productivity of my study sessions. The Focus scenario has been very helpful in keeping my stress levels through soothing sounds. The specially tuned noises do a great job of making harsh interruptions less audible. If you’re like me and need a non-lyrical soundtrack of some sort to block external happenings, I recommend Endel.