It seems to be a part of New York City’s culture that most people my age or younger walk around with their headphones in. It just makes sense with all the commuting we do on foot. I liken it to listening to the radio in your car; we just don’t have cars and we also need an excuse why not to donate to whatever song and dance act is collecting duckets on public transit between stops.
To avoid having to make small talk with my co-workers, I’ve found that continuing to wear my headphones at my desk once I arrive at work keeps me safely in the grey area between antisocial and highly focused. Even if all I’m doing is tooling around the internet, I keep my headphones in and my eyes locked on my computer screen while making sure to change my facial expression regularly from intense stare to frustrated scowl to pleased grin to keep up the illusion that I’m working on accomplishing things.
If only…
It’s not that I’m not a social gal, anyone who knows me will agree that I chatter constantly with trusted friends. I just prefer to keep my private life separate from my professional life as best I can in times like these. With an election just around the corner and barely up to speed citizens itching to proclaim their political opinion to anyone that will listen, I find it best to keep my thoughts and opinions to myself, and also to block out the sound of others’ sharing theirs.
And so, lately I’ve found a nice mix of songs that is both laid back and upbeat enough to keep my energy level up at my desk as sometimes working and more often pretending to can take a lot out of me. Here’s what I’ve been listening to these days:
- Starstruck – Santigold
- West Coast – Coconut Records
- Young Blood – The Naked and the Famous
- Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
- Walking On A Dream – Empire of the Sun
- Midnight City – M83
- Barely Breathing – Duncan Sheik
- New Work – JJ
- Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears
- Tongue Tied – Grouplove
- Black Balloon – Goo Goo Dolls
- Let the Drummer Kick – Citizen Cope
- Garden Grove – Sublime
- Life On the Nickel – Foster the People
- Lina Magic – 3D Friends
- Washed Out – New Theory
- No Excuses – Alice in Chains
- Amber – 311
- Soul Meets Body – Death Cab for Cutie
- Not Over You – Gavin DeGraw
- Someone Great – LCD Soundsystem
- Sometimes – Miami Horror
- Sweet Disposition – Temper Trap
- This Place is a Prison – The Postal Service
- Clocks – Coldplay
And so whether it be avoiding discussions on what used to be considered a private, taboo topic of conversation in public, or simply actually doing your job, I hope you find these songs as helpful in your work day quest as I have!
Sssshhh
RyanWritesDaily 