Very Superstitious

On Friday the 13th of 2020 (who knows what awful things might happen today!) I thought I would write a little something about superstitions.  Do they help you work or be more productive?  What superstitions do you have?

While I am a very practical and logical person (well aren’t all scientists?!) there is one area I am a little quirky.  When I worked at the bench, there were certain experiments where I was very superstitious and I always adhered to it so I didn’t jinx the whole thing!  Now I am not speaking of wearing the same top, socks or jewellery which most sporting superstitions are, my superstition involved listening to particular music.  For instance, I appreciate great confocal microscopy and when I imaged I only listened to one band: The Rolling Stones.  It isn’t as if Mick et al. were in the room assisting me operate the microscope (which to the inexperienced can be a very daunting task) but for some reason I would not image without them!  Likewise, I tended to listen to pop or bouncy rock while culturing my cells.  Not that the cells could even hear the music (they don’t have ears silly! Plus I am considerate and wandered around listening to my pink iPod), I just think the happy mood I was in while listening ensured my cells continued to grow fabulously well.

Obviously this means that before I left for work I checked, and double checked, that my iPod is packed and charged ready for my day.  I am sure that many of you would consider this a ridiculous ritual however it isn’t as if I am sacrificing a chicken at midnight in a stone circle.  Therefore it could clearly be sillier and more difficult to achieve.  I should point out that I was able to perform the experiments without the music, and often had to while I trained people, but I believe that I gave optimal performance and get better results when I listened to it.  I have two theories to explain this enhanced phenomenon.  My first theory is that when I chose what was playing it was less of a distraction than listening to background noise for example conversations or general lab clicking and whirring.  This may also explain why I couldn’t tolerate hearing talk radio or podcasts while I worked as I automatically concentrate on what is said and not on my experiment.  My second theory is that, when I am obviously listening to music, people are less likely to interrupt what I am doing.

When I am working in my office at home, I always like to have a candle burning.  As soon as I sit down I reach over and light one.  It has become part of my ritual to beginning work.  Depending on my mood I may have music playing to either inspire or keep my focus on the task at hand.  Do either of these things help my work?

Whether I really do perform better is irrelevant however.  I believe that I do therefore I continue to follow my superstition.  Stevie Wonder once sang “When you believe in things that you don't understand, Then you suffer, Superstition ain't the way”.  I have to disagree, as long as you are performing great work, who cares what put you in the correct frame of mind to do it?  (Within the law and without harming anyone of course)

Now some of you will hopefully be nodding in agreement with me as you read this while some of you will think I am crazy.  I am sure (or at least I hope) that others are also as superstitious as me.  I therefore ask if you have a tradition, ritual or superstition for certain tasks that you share them with me.  I can’t wait to find out what you get up to!