Unpopular opinion: I finally ditched my fancy noise-cancelling headphones

Three years ago in Chiang Mai, I bought a $300 pair thinking they were essential for work. Last month in Lisbon, I left them in a taxi and had to use my cheap wired earbuds for a week. I got more work done because I wasn't so cut off from my surroundings and could actually hear when my coffee was ready. Has anyone else found that less tech makes them more productive on the road?

2 comments

2 Comments

rubybarnes21d ago

Honestly, it's the safety thing for me. I was walking with my expensive noise-cancellers on and almost got hit by a bike. Total tunnel vision. Now with regular earbuds, I can hear that car coming up behind me or someone calling my name. Makes a huge difference in a new city where you don't know the street sounds yet. Maybe being a little less immersed is a good trade-off.

matthew70321d ago

Yeah, that "total tunnel vision" hits home. I once walked into a street sign while zoning out with my noise-cancellers on. A full-on, forehead-first meeting with the pole. Felt like a real genius that day. Now I just use one earbud if I'm out walking, keeps me from becoming a public safety lesson.