In the modern workplace, it’s common to find teams working at their individual workspaces with headphones in, music blasting.
Many people swear by the energy they get from music as a productive blessing, especially on slow days. But is that really the case? And if so, what kinds of music make you most productive?
Michael Hyatt discusses using music to be more productive in his book Free to Focus. That’s why productive music is the focus of today’s post. We’ll discuss how music can make us more productive, and what kinds of music are good for boosting productivity.
But first – here’s a case study from the British Broadcasting Company during WWII.
Music Productivity Case Study: BBC & WWII
The “Music While You Work” programme was a product of the UK government and the BBC during WWII. The idea was that playing live, upbeat music in factories twice a day could help workers step up the pace and get the military the supplies they needed faster.
The show was deemed a success, as BBC executives cited the numerous letters and reports they received from factory managers across the country. One manager said its impact had been “incalculable”, while another estimated that their output had increased by 12.5-15% following the session.
While this example is quite simple, it demonstrates some of the theory in this post.
Is it better to work and study in silence or with music and background noise?
Before we kick off our discussion on productive music, we can tackle this simple question. Are we more productive working in silence or with music and background noise? I’d argue that’s the wrong question, because of course music can make you less productive! But it can also make you more productive, as the case study above shows. You just need to listen to the right music. Once we understand our music needs, we can begin to tailor our productive playlists around them.
For example, you might feel that complete silence is the best way to work – always. However, studies show that a certain level of ambient noise can improve creativity. While you may sometimes feel you need silence to work, listening to muffled sounds like footsteps or distant conversations can actually improve productivity.
I think it’s important to note that not all forms of productivity are the same. What works in one context will not always work in another. Sometimes you’ll need a pick-me-up with your music; other times you may simply prefer silence.
That’s why it’s important to know what music is best to listen to while you do different kinds of work.
What music makes you productive?
Before deciding on the best music to make you productive, it’s important to understand what the objective of listening to music is. That’s why we should distinguish between cognitively challenging tasks and more repetitive work. We should also consider whether stress is contributing decreased productivity.
Complexity
Complex tasks usually require a free mind. That’s why the best music to listen to while studying or problem solving are is simple and usually lyric-free. Otherwise, lyrics and unexpected patterns can become a distraction and hinder your productivity. Instrumental music is generally the best type of music to improve your focus. Some people even swear by listening to a single song on repeat, claiming that it helps them achieve a flow-like state.
Repetition
On the other hand, repetitive tasks are more straight-forward and require a lot of energy. That’s why the best music to suit this type of work is more upbeat and complex. The idea is that music should help keep you motivated during repetitive tasks, that can otherwise easily become boring.
Stress
If stress is the issue, it might be worth trying out ambient and nature sounds to de-stress. Lo-fi music can also help you relax, and it offers the added benefit of creating a mood.
The best music to make you productive will depend on the task you’re doing and your personal taste in music. Having said that, studies have shown five types of music increase productivity.
In addition to ambient music, we can also relieve physical symptoms of stress with body scan exercises.
What music should you listen to when you work or study?
Five types of music have been shown to improve productivity in recent studies.
1. Classical Music
The “Mozart Effect” claims that listening to classical music makes you smarter and helps you focus.
2. Nature Music
De-stress and bring a fresh perspective to your work.
3. Epic Music
Tackle new challenges with a profound sense of motivation.
4. Video Game Music
Music specifically created to help you focus on your task without distractions.
5. Ambient Soundtracks
Drown out the silence and de-stress.
Final Tips for Productive Music
Here are some more helpful tips in terms of finding productive music:
- Listen to your favourite pump-up songs before you start working.
- Play your feel-good favourites, as they’re likely to increase productivity
- Try out some binaural beats to see if that works for you
- Consider listening to white noise to help block out distracting sounds
Approach Tough Days with Music Therapy
Before we round off this post, it’s worth mentioning how music therapy is used in practice and what lessons it lends to productivity.
Music therapy’s benefits range from physical changes such as improved respiration, lower blood pressure and relaxed muscle tension to mental effects like reduced stress and emotional problems. This practice is even used to treat depression.
The way it works is by first altering a patient’s mood by matching to how the patient is feeling, and then gradually alter the songs to achieve the desired mood state.
The Simplified Music Therapy Process
The simple process looks like this:
- Start slow with some peaceful tunes
- Transition into a “power song” to get you really motivated
By following a similar process, we can use music therapy to increase our productivity. This method is particularly useful when you’re feeling sluggish and having an “off day”.
Watch out for signs of having a tough day, and consider employing these simple two steps.
Music Productivity in a Nutshell
From WWII to the modern workplace, the examples in this post have clearly shown that music can have a profound impact on productivity. It all depends on the goal of our music.
If we’re trying to be creative, a little background noise goes a long way. When we’re trying to focus on a complex task, we need a tune without lyrics. If we’re doing something repetitive, we really just need some added motivation to keep up the pace.
Studies have specifically pointed at Classical, Nature, Epic, Video game and Ambient music as productivity boosters for different contexts. On our toughest days, we can even lend a lesson from music therapy, by starting with slow and peaceful songs and gradually picking up the pace.
At the end of the day, music can help us be more productive. Sometimes what we really need is effective rejuvenation. We can even build habits and systems around productive music playlists.
A little wisdom goes a long way. Learn more about productivity in prioritising tasks, reviewing your week and planning your ideal week. And here are 16 productive things to do when you’re bored.
Increase your productivity with productive music and Mind & Practice today.