Music surrounds us all, filling quiet places with notes and tunes that can convey a variety of emotions. Some music helps people relax, and other music can help people be more productive. Not all music is helpful for productivity though; some music is distracting rather than helpful. Songs that have a complex musical structure, for example, can be more distracting than those that have simple structures, and songs that have lyrics in them will likely end up with you paying attention to the lyrics rather than what you’re supposed to be doing.
What music genres are the best to listen to, then?
Classical
Research shows that classical music helps people work more effectively, something that’s known as “the Mozart Effect.” This effect suggests that classical music enhances brain activity that improves the health and well-being of the listener. Why is classical music so effective? One reason could be that there aren’t any lyrics in the music; another reason is that classical music is usually calming and helps reduce stress.
Cinematic
On the flip side, cinematic music is just as helpful for productivity as classical music is. Listening to a film score can make you feel like you’re doing something inspiring or important rather than something mundane like filling out paperwork. It’s intense and can change your workspace’s mood entirely, helping your concentration and productivity. Film scores tend to be empowering, so if you’re looking for motivation, turn to your favorite film and listen to its score.
Video Games
Video game music is perfect for concentration and productivity because that’s the exact reason it’s composed in the first place. Video games require intense concentration and focus to finish missions or solve puzzles, and every component of the game needs to help players work on the task the game has given them—including its score. These scores generally don’t have any lyrics or human voices, and the fast pace of the music will keep you pushing forward with your work rather than let you get distracted, encouraging you to evaluate, navigate, and get through the task at hand.
Your Favorite Music
Sometimes all you need to get yourself motivated to work is something to look forward to. Listening to your favorite music can do just that: it’ll add excitement to your day, especially if the task you need to do is particularly boring. Having your favorite music on will boost your mood, and with an improved mood, you’ll come up with better ideas and finish your work more quickly. The only downside to this is that this music can be detrimental if you let yourself get distracted by the lyrics.