Back during my finals last semester, I had to read through about 40 pages of really dry research articles for a history class. Usually, I'd put on one of those "lo-fi hip hop to study to" streams, light a candle, and try to get into the zone. But after an hour, I'd always realize I’d been staring at the same page and reading the same sentence over and over because my mind was just drifting along with the beat. It was simply too relaxing to actually get anything done.

A friend eventually suggested switching to video game soundtracks - specifically open-world exploration music like Skyrim or Minecraft - because those tracks are literally designed to keep you focused on a task in the background without being distracting.

I decided to try it, and it actually worked wonders. It didn't make the dry readings any more exciting, but it kept my brain just engaged enough that I wasn't constantly checking my phone or losing my train of thought. It was the first time that whole semester I managed to finish a heavy reading assignment in one sitting.

What do you guys usually listen to when you have to power through really dry study material?