It's Just Not Like It Used to Be...(Is this Oprah, or What?)
Posted by: Ismaningerman on 26 September 2011
When I was 14 I saved up the earnings from my paper round for a year and bought my first stereo system - an Alba :-) Though I craved something better - my best friend had had the perspicacity (and the moola) to buy separates at the age of 11! - that Alba system gave me years of enjoyment. I would often lie on my bed in the dark and listen to whole LPs from start to finish, reveling in the music.
Now I'm 46, have a much better system, but don't really get the music like I used to. I don't exactly expect to recapture the wonder years, but what's missing? Stress at work for one thing seems to be detracting from my listening, when now of all times I need something to relax with and take my mind off day-to-day stuff.
The biggest shot in the arm I received in the last few years was discovering classical music, particularly baroque, which sounds trés sweet on nSats. But to be honest I often find it difficult to concentrate on just the music, and find myself reading or surfing the net or doing something else at the same time. My brain is always whirring and won't slow down.
I had the idea of researching the background to pieces of music and listening in bite-size pieces, e.g. one concerto or one symphony at a time.
Anyone else experienced "listeners droop"? Any suggestions for recovering my youthful potency?
Regards,
Nigel
Hi Nigel,
i would think almost everyone has some difficulty in enjoying music from time to time.
The usual culprits are general tiredness from needing some sleep, or perhaps fatigue incurred over longer time, stress or anxiety, depression. Any of these can kill ones appreciation of music.
You mention stress at work, i can give you some empathy because this seems to be a nasty sign of the times. I believe it’s all part of this trumped up financial farce crisis to kill us all off with stress before we get to pensionable age. (but i won't go on about it right now... i'll only get worked up!)
I get stressed at work too, although probably for different reasons for why are at your place of work. My job isn't particularly stressful, but unfortunately it is often made so by too much noise, firstly machinery, and then the use of too many radios on the work floor area (three or four is common now) all tuned in loudly to different radio stations!
This confusion of sound noise i find fundamentally grating. Complaining only seems to cause bad feeling and an augmentative atmosphere --- stress.
But my advice to anyone inflicted with stress or fatigue is to firstly make sure you are getting enough sleep, and it is good quality sleep. This may be all that’s needed to sort out any transient problem.
If it persists visit your Doctor for a chat and a bp test. They are becoming very expert on stress these days, so much of it about unfortunately.
Anyway, hope you‘re okay. Keep up the baroque music listening, it can help a lot.
And don't let the buggers get you down 
Debs