Take a Break from Finding the Next Song: Spend Some Time with One Album

You open a music app to listen to something, then find yourself browsing recommendations and jumping between playlists. A song starts, but you are already looking for the next one. Does that sound familiar?

Discovering new music can be a pleasure. Some days, though, you might enjoy taking a break from the search: choose one album and listen to its tracks in order.

Use a record or CD if you have one, or simply use your phone. Here, an offline moment means spending time with music away from searches and feeds; you do not have to disconnect from the internet completely. This is an invitation to change how you listen before buying anything new.

Today’s album can be something you already know

Looking for a classic you ought to hear, or the perfect match for your mood, can turn choosing into another lengthy task. Start with something you own or an album available through the service you already use.

A few possible starting points:

• An album with one song you love and several you barely know.
• An old favorite you have not played in a while.
• Something you saved to your library but have not listened to yet.

If you are stuck, narrow it down to two and play whichever caught your eye first. Save the other for another day. This is a way to get started, not a rule for making better choices.

You do not have to find the best possible album to choose tonight’s music.

Finish your screen tasks before pressing play

Check the track order and volume, and adjust the playback settings if you need to. If you want the original sequence, review shuffle; if you want a clear stopping point, look at repeat or autoplay where your device or app allows it. Available settings and controls vary between services.

If you are using your phone, place it face down somewhere you will not keep reaching for it. When you are waiting for an important message, keep it close enough to check easily.

For help finding a spot, try our ideas for giving your phone a regular resting place. Using a phone to play the music is entirely compatible with enjoying this time.

If you have CDs or records, use the setup you already have. Buying a new player does not need to be a condition for starting.

Notice one sound that interests you

You do not have to sit perfectly still or pay attention to every sound. Settle into a chair or look out of the window, and let yourself notice something that catches your ear.

Perhaps you like a low note, the pause before the voice comes in, or the change in mood between tracks. You do not need musical terminology to describe it in your own words. If nothing in particular comes to mind, just listening is fine too.

When you want to look up a track or performer, you could make a quick note on paper and check later. You are not giving up the pleasure of exploring music, just separating that activity from the time you spend listening.

If your thoughts wander or something needs your attention, there is no need to start again. If a whole album feels like too much, try three songs today. That number is simply a manageable starting point, not a measure of any benefit.

Leave a little space after the last track

Before moving straight to another recommendation, stop playback for a moment. If you want more, choose another album. If you have had enough, finish there. Either way, you get to decide.

If there is something you want to remember, write a line on paper:

• The album you chose.
• A track or sound you would like to hear again.
• When you might enjoy listening next time.

You do not need a rating or a review. “Play this again in the evening” is enough for a personal note. You can also leave out the work of turning it into something to post online.

Do not turn listening into another set of rules

There is room for choosing individual songs and letting playlists run. Listening to an album in order is not a superior way to enjoy music.

But on a day when you are tired of choosing, try spending time with the album you have already picked. You might hear a track you would normally skip, or return to the same favorite. Both are perfectly good outcomes.

If you become curious about using a separate music player, explore our article on enjoying music with an iPod. For now, why not choose tonight’s album using what you already have?

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Photo by Lennon Kong on Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License.