Some research suggests, however, that classical or any type of complex music is best when performing simple tasks , rather than complicated ones.
Ambient music is a style of gentle, tone-based music that utilizes ambient sounds like the hum of an air conditioner or the buzz of TV static. Ambient music often lacks a true beat, usually doesn't have lyrics, and ends up blending into the preexisting background noise -- this is why ambient sounds like white noise are often used at sleep aids.
In terms of focus and productivity, one study found that white noise can help people with ADHD ignore noisy environments and perform tasks with more efficiency. There's still a lot of work to do, however, when it comes to understanding when ambient noise helps and when it doesn't , according to recent research from the University of Alberta.
We already know that spending time in nature is good for our physical health. It turns out that listening to nature sounds, even when trapped in an office, can boost your mood and promote deep focus. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York found that soothing nature sounds, such as rainfall, can mask intrusive sounds and help workers stay on task. This Nature Sounds playlist on Spotify has more than one million monthly listeners, a good indication that the playlist works for something, be it relaxation, sleep or focus.
Just as particular styles of music can help you focus and get things done, other styles can sabotage your efforts no matter how strong your work ethic.
There's no research that explicitly compares the effects of different types of music on productivity, but most people can probably agree that it's best to avoid distracting styles, such as dubstep music and heavy metal, while working.
Truly, though, it all comes down to personal preference. And it's not as if experimenting with background music can really hurt -- we're talking about music here, not whether a food additive is safe or not. The worst outcome is a slow day at work and perhaps a bit of scolding from your boss. You should know yourself well enough to understand what types of music and sounds help you focus, and which ones don't. If you find yourself struggling to focus with '80s classic rock in the background, maybe it's a good idea to turn off the Guns N' Roses and switch to something with less electric guitar.
It's worth experimenting to find out what kind of music helps you focus. I personally can't listen to any music, regardless of style or tempo, that has lyrics. Psychology of Music, 40 1 , Music listening in offices: Balancing internal needs and external considerations Doctoral thesis, University of Sheffield, Sheffield accessed from www.
Marcus Taylor is the Founder of Serene, a macOS app that helps you get your focus back by blocking distractions, increasing focus, and organising your day around one goal that matters. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Productivity Tips. Which Concentration Music is Best for Focus? So which genres are ideal? We set out to test six popular genres. What do these genres or, at least the songs we used in our test have in common?
Happy Music is Better for Productivity than Sad Music A study from the University of Connecticut tested the effect of background music played in different modes e. The hype over binaural beats Binaural beats have received a lot of hype over the past decade. References 1a Anderson, S. Marcus Taylor Marcus Taylor is the Founder of Serene, a macOS app that helps you get your focus back by blocking distractions, increasing focus, and organising your day around one goal that matters.
How Slack Affects Your Brain. Related Posts. Read More. Research suggests, however, that listening to music can reduce working memory capacity. If you already have a hard time manipulating multiple pieces of information, listening to music could make this process even more challenging.
Certain types of music, including fast music, loud music, and music with lyrics, can make it harder to understand and absorb reading material. Keeping these tips in mind can help you find the most helpful music for work and study:. Noises from roommates, children, neighbors, coworkers, traffic, and so on can become constant disruptions and keep you from getting anything done.
If you prefer the outdoors to your office or study desk, soft nature sounds might provide a relaxing atmosphere that makes your work more pleasant.
If random sounds in the background interrupt your concentration, white noise , which muffles background noise, could help you maintain your focus.
A study also suggests white noise could help improve learning and memory. Give it a try with a white noise machine or online generator, such as the free app A Soft Murmur.
You might even have some white noise generators at home already: Just tune your radio to static or turn on a fan.
While binaural beat research is still in the early stages, limited research and anecdotal reports suggests binaural beats could help improve concentration and ability to stay on task, especially for people with ADHD.
Binaural beats are an auditory illusion produced when you hear two different sounds at the same time, one in each ear. Your brain takes the difference between these two sound frequencies — say, Hertz Hz in the left ear, Hz in the right — and produces a third sound at the frequency of this difference, or 14 Hz. This is the sound you hear. Choosing music carefully can help you maximize its benefits, but if you still struggle to focus, it may help to consider white noise or other audio options instead.
Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. Poor concentration is the inability to focus on a task. A person who is unable to concentrate is easy to be distracted.
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