Music & Productivity: Can music help you focus?
8 Comments
Are you struggling to focus? Music might be the solution for you!
The scientific link between music and productivity is not really as straightforward as simply saying that music makes us more productive. There are numerous different studies which indicate how music might affect productivity, however, in more indirect means.
Music has the innate ability to elevate your mood. Studies indicate that music has been proven to enhance brain function and ease stress. In fact, according to a study published in Trends in Cognitive Science, music is better at easing stress and anxiety than taking pharmaceutical anti-anxiety medication.[1]
Although stress is not directly related to productivity, we can probably all agree that we tend to work better when we're not stressed, anxious, or in a bad mood.
Here are our tips to help you work better.
Concentration music with a steady rhythm
When it comes to perfecting your craft, sometimes repetition is necessary. Although, doing the same thing over and over, may not be everyone's cup of tea, music can make repetitive tasks slightly more enjoyable. Listening to music eases some of the boredom that comes with performing monotonous projects and makes it easier to concentrate while you’re doing them. Find something with a steady and constant beat to help your mind focus and stay on track. Check out the composer, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Nick Lewis, whose music has an uncanny ability to make you feel better and worry less. He is also the artist behind the unique ringtones and sounds for Mudita Pure.
Check out Nick Lewis & his song Bring The Light
Ambient Sounds
It’s not only music that can help improve your productivity. Sometimes, working and listening to consistent, soothing sounds can not only help you focus, but also has the ability for you to be more creative. A study in the Journal of Consumer Research concluded that, while high levels of noise can be disruptive and impair focus, a consistent, low level of ambient noise can increase creativity. [2]
Similar to ambient music, the sounds of nature, such as waves, birds, babbling brooks, wind and rain are very calming and make great background noise.
Classical may not always be key
Unfortunately, the idea that classical music can improve your intelligence and raise your IQ has been discredited a long time ago. There is no concrete proof that listening to classical music makes you smarter. In fact, it’s actually the opposite. Research has found that young children who watch classical music-based television actually learn fewer words. [3]
However, what classical music does do, is to help you get in the zone for when you need to perform. According to Dr. Masha Godkin, a professor at Northcentral University in California, “Music has the potential to take a person from the Beta brainwave state to deeper Alpha, and then Theta brainwave states, depending on the music.” [4]
Concentration music to your ears?
At Mudita, we don’t want to live in a world of unpleasant and intrusive sounds and distracting ringtones. Mudita Pure is equipped with a great quality Harman speaker. It provides high quality, natural sounds both in quiet and loud environments, essential for enjoying your favorite music, podcast or audiobooks.
If you are looking to enhance the way your mind works in order to be more productive, effective and happy, you’re in the right place.
Read also
You might also consider joining our FORUM Community where we discuss ideas and exchange information about all things connected to wellness and digital well-being.
Related stories
Why Mindful Tech Use Matters for Your Work-Life Balance
Reclaim work-life balance through mindful tech use and learn practical strategies to reduce digital overload & set boundaries with Mudita's minimalist approach.
Mudita’s Simple Guide to Digital Minimalism
Digital minimalism allows us to reconnect with ourselves, our loved ones & our surroundings in a more meaningful way.
Why rest & relaxation are important for health & happiness
Sleep is essential for our physical and mental health. It helps us manage stress, remember information we learn during the day and be more creative.
If you'd like to receive the best stories from our blog, keep up to date with our progress and get notified about our product releases and special discounts.
The debate whether music helps people focus & be more productive has been discussed many times. What are your thoughts on listening to music, or any kind of background noise while trying to concentrate?
Personally, I prefer my atmosphere quiet while I’m working, but I’ve also heard that some people cannot work without some kind of background noise.
Where do you guys stand on music & productivity?
I doubt this is what you are getting at, but I know I like to listen to music to relax and enjoy. Work at present for me has been somewhat stressful (mainly due to big organisational changes, not difficult work). If I were to listen to music to calm me down, I would run the risk of accidentally conditioning myself to associate nice music with stress and defeat the purpose of it!
Maybe the trick is to have the volume down low enough so the noise is there, but it is not identifiable.
For me, this depends upon the work I am doing. If I am researching and need to focus on someone’s words (written or spoken), I cannot have music. This is also true of when I am trying to communicate with people. If I am writing something lengthy and involved, I can tolerate some music, but it is really just drowning out the ambient noise of my home… and serves no other purpose. I could have a white noise machine instead. When I am programming and working on a complex problem, however, I find that I work best with some music. I haven’t fully figured out why, but it happens. Often, if there is work I have been putting off and just not wanting to tackle, the same is true. Throw on some headphones and just bang it out.
There is one major thing though. I never listen to my favorite stuff while working. Music that I truly love, I listen to with my undivided.
Oh no, bots invasion
I’ve timed myself and working takes longer if there’s music on compared to silence.
It takes even longer if there’s noise, so music, to the extent that it masks noise, can be great.
Also, music makes working more fun which can cut down on procrastination, hesitation, reluctance, which is also a reason to use it.
I need to have some easily accessible way to pause/unpause, so I can turn it off while problem solving and leave it on for more rote, tedious aspects of work.
that’s right, music and ringtones make me more excited and comfortable at work
that’s right, music and ringtones make me more excited and comfortable at work at tonosparacelular.net
I’ve gotten out of the habit of listening to music while I work, and into the habit of listening to podcasts during certain kinds of time-consuming rote tasks. I should try to switch it up and see if I like music better. Almost the only place I listen to music these days is in the car.
Most of what I do is reading and writing, and for those kinds of tasks it doesn’t help (me) to try to listen to anything because I have to listen to what I’m doing.