If you have difficulty quietening your thoughts, just let them be. Observe them; let them come and go. Accept them, don't try to avoid them or brush them away. Like ripples on a pond, eventually they will come to rest, leaving the waters of your mind clear and tranquil.
Here are some items that will help to deepen your experience of meditation and make it more effective.
Place the word 'peace' in your mind. Meditate on peace. Let peace fill your mind and body. Peace underlying every thought and breath. Then release the word and become still.
If you hear background noise and this disturbs you, say to yourself, "Any noise that I hear makes me relax even more." Use the noise as a mental trigger to deepen your relaxation.