Music is pleasurable to listen to. My desire to listen to music is nearly addictive. It is unpleasant to sit in a room without music going on in the background.
But it does require some degree of attention. Although the bulk of my attention may be going to another project, such as reading a book, part of my attention always seems to be dabbling with the music.
In many cases, this is not a problem. Many tasks do not require my full attention. However, in some cases, such as reading or writing philosophy, my mind is perceptibly distracted.
At this point in my life, however, I am sufficiently accustomed to the music that being in a room without music is even more distracting than being in a room with music.
This is a problem: I am not operating at my peak efficiency when listening to music, but it is currently better than the opposite.
But the cause of the disturbance while I am not listening to music is the fact that I am in the current habit of listening to music. Breaking a habit is difficult and causes a sensation of anxiety. In this case, not great anxiety, but it is still there. The habit can be changed merely by following a different mode of activity.
Therefore, I will resolve to work this morning without the use of music. Specifically, today I aim to brush up on my symbolic logic. As I am trying to teach it to myself without the pressure of class assignments and grades, I must exercise more discipline. I anticipate this to be a difficult project, because I am a man of weak will.
Natural Causes 