Writing Tools: Coffitivity

It’s no secret that I spend a lot of my time keeping Starbucks in business.  For one thing, I really like coffee (if you’re about to ask “then why do you go to Starbucks?”, stop right there, please), for another, it provides the mental break in my day that I need to refocus my energy towards writing.

I’m easily distractible at the best of times, and if there’s a tv on, my eyes are naturally drawn to it.  I write well with music on, but I can’t listen to music instead of a tv (and I live with other people, who are usually inclined to watch it in the evenings), so my options are hiding in my room, or finding somewhere else to work.  The ambient noise in a coffee shop is great for my focus.  There, but not anything I have to pay attention to, and just enough buzz to force me into ignoring it.

In that vein, I offer you the joy that is Coffitivity.  All the background noise of a coffee shop, with none of the jockeying for a seat near an outlet!  They suggest that you set the volume of Coffitivity just below that of your music to provide the same level of ambient noise you’d get at a coffee shop.  I’ve tried it a couple times now, both as background noise in my own (largely silent) office, and running below my music.  It works!  The beta is free, and I was surprised at how easily I adapted to using it while I was working.  I highly recommend giving it a shot.  (Thanks to Carl for the tip!)

Moderate ambient noise is proven to boost creativity.