Should you listen to music while you work? It’s a polarizing question. Some people find working in silence boring and say that music helps them focus on the task at hand. Others say that music makes it hard for them to concentrate, causing them to work slower.
What does scientific research have to say about music and productivity? It depends on what you’re listening to. As a neuroscientist and a psychologist explain here, there’s a very specific type of music that’s been shown to help with focus and productivity.
Keep reading to find out what type of music is best to listen to while you work and to see which song, in particular, a neuroscientist listens to herself, whenever she needs to concentrate.
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The Best Song for Focus, According to a Neuroscientist
Friederike Fabritius, MS, a neuroscientist and the author of The Brain-Friendly Workplace, says that she’s had the same go-to song for decades for whenever she needs to concentrate on something. (Safe to say it isn’t anything by Sabrina Carpenter, then!) It’s “Goldberg Variations” by Bach. This particular song (which consists of 30 variations) is almost 1.5 hours long; you can get a lot done during that time!
“When I have to focus, I always listen to [that] same song and I instantly get into flow,” Fabritius says, referring to that feeling of being in the zone, where you’re completely absorbed in the task at hand. “You can actually condition your brain to get into flow and focus by always listening to the same music when you want to focus. It creates a ritual for your brain and a very strong connection.”
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Since Fabritius plays “Goldberg Variations” every time she needs to sit down and focus on something, every time she hears the first notes, it’s a signal to her brain that it’s time to get down to business.
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Tips for Choosing Music That Will Boost Your Productivity
Scientific research supports the idea of listening to classical music, like Fabritius does, as an effort to boost focus and productivity. One study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that listening to calming music helped students focus while studying better. (The researchers searched for playlists with “study” or “studying” on Spotify to find songs, a tip you can try yourself.)
Dr. Erin Hannon, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, says that, typically, a moderate level of arousal (not too high, not too low) is best for sustained attention and productivity.
“That means choosing music with a slow to moderate tempo, with moderately predictable pitch and rhythmic structure and lower levels of chaotic noise and dissonance, such as screaming,” she explains.
Fabritius adds to this, saying, “You should not listen to loud, busy disco or techno music. Classical music that’s soothing and peaceful—hopefully without lyrics— supports focus rather than something that can additionally distract you.”
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That said, both experts explain that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all guideline when it comes to music and productivity that works for everyone.
“The effects of music on individuals’ arousal and emotional response is highly variable across individuals. The same piece of music can give rise to completely different emotional reactions depending on the individual listener. There is probably no one genre of music that can help with focus for everyone,” Dr. Hannon says.
She explains that the way music affects someone’s ability to focus depends on their listening history, what genres they are most and least familiar with, their social and cultural identity, how fast or slow they prefer music to be as well as other musical preferences.
Related to this, Fabritius points to a scientific study showing that young adults with ADHD tend to prefer listening to stimulating music, so for them, this type of music could help them focus better. But for people who don’t have ADHD, more calming music is more likely to help them focus.
With all of this in mind, the best way to know what type of music helps you focus better is to experiment! You could try listening to classical music and see how it impacts your productivity compared to music that’s more stimulating. You could even try what Fabritius does and listen to the same exact song every time you need to focus. Or, you may find that you work best in silence. With time, you’ll figure out what music helps you tune out distractions—pun intended!
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Sources
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Friederike Fabritius, MS,neuroscientist and the author of The Brain-Friendly Workplace
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Dr. Erin Hannon, PhD, psychology professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
