How Music Can Boost Your Productivity

But is there more to music than sound-tracking admin? Research from the Psychology of Music found that software developers enjoyed more positive moods, higher quality of work and improved efficiency when they listen to music. Interestingly, they also learned new tasks faster with background music. [5]

Turning up Creativity

Not all scientists are convinced by the positive effects of music, though. In a 2019 study, researchers found that background music “significantly impaired” verbal creative tasks such as word puzzles. [6] But what about big picture thinking?

Research from journal PLOS ONE found that listening to “happy”, “upbeat” and “stimulating” music improves our “divergent thinking”. The researchers describe it as “making unexpected combinations, recognizing links among remote associates, or transforming information into unexpected forms.” In the world of business, you’ve probably heard this as “thinking outside the box”. [7]

Tuning Out

In his book The Eureka Factor: Aha Moments, Creative Insight, and the Brain, Mark Beeman expands on divergent thinking. He argues that the music that makes us happy also eases anxiety – helping us lose focus. This is actually a good thing, because it stops you getting caught up with ideas that don’t work. Instead, you look for new approaches. [8]

Music, Beeman argues, slips the brain into the “incubation” mode when you mull over a problem at an unconscious level. It’s there you “dredge up” new ideas. He likens coming up with creative ideas to seeing a star. “You have to look at it out of the corner of your eye,” and “take your focus off the strong, obvious ideas to avoid squashing the others.” [9]

Cognitive behavioral therapist Dr. Emma Gray has found a common beat to this relaxed, creative mind state. Specifically, 50 to 80 beats per minute. Working with Spotify to research the benefits of different types of music, she found that listening to tunes in that beat range puts the brain into an ‘alpha state’. That’s when our brain-wave activity slows and our minds are more open to imaginative thinking, clarity of memory and intuition. In other words, “eureka moments”. [10]

Power Playlists

We’ve got the beat, but is there a particular genre of music that helps with productivity? A study found that instrumental music boosts this, while songs with lyrics can distract and reduce mental performance. Further research from Applied Acoustics found that performance takes a bigger dent with hard-to-hear lyrics. [11]

These findings chime with a study, which found that seven out of eight radiologists enjoy increased mood and concentration levels while listening to classical music. [12] Research shows that the sounds of nature lower stress levels even more than classical music. Good for unlocking divergent thinking. [13]

In one study, researchers piped the sound of flowing water and rainfall into an office. These natural sounds lifted employees’ moods and helped them focus. Research suggests this ambient noise blankets the distracting sound of people chatting, printers bleeping and keyboards clicking. [14]

Further studies reveal more surprising musical styles that help us get more done. They include:

• Video game music. It’s designed to motivate players, blend into the background and reward you for reaching the next level. [15]
• Dance music. In one study its beats upped proofreading speed by 20%. [16]
• Pop music. Listening to pop reduced employee mistakes by 14% in one study. [17]

So, is there a common thread to these different genres? For scientists, it comes down to our individual tastes in music. When we listen to tunes we love, we get that all-important dopamine hit.

What’s more, music’s ability to make us more productive is different for everyone. Studies show the number of brain areas activated by music varies from person to person, depending on our musical training and experiences. [18]

Sound Advice

Want to get the biggest mental boost possible from your music? Experts advise you to:

• Create a playlist of your old favorites. With songs you love and have heard often, you get that dopamine hit without having to focus on new lyrics or beats. [19]
• Lose the lyrics. Is there an instrumental version of your favorite tune? Picking out the meaning from words can distract us and dent productivity. [20]
• Beat match. Apps like BeatPerMinuteOnline and SongBPM help you select tunes with that 50 to 80-beat sweet spot.

Got a tune that helps you get more done? Share it with us in the comments below.