{"id":57729,"date":"2025-06-19T21:38:31","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T21:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"\/a54zcjf\/how-music-can-boost-your-productivity\/"},"modified":"2025-06-19T21:38:31","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T21:38:31","slug":"how-music-can-boost-your-productivity","status":"publish","type":"product-content","link":"https:\/\/www.mindtools.com\/a54zcjf\/how-music-can-boost-your-productivity\/","title":{"rendered":"How Music Can Boost Your Productivity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Article<\/p>\n\n

Beats for Your Brain<\/h2>\n\n

When you listen to music, your brain releases dopamine<\/strong> \u2013 a neurotransmitter that makes you feel good and reduces anxiety. [1] Studies also show that when you\u2019re in your happy place, you work smarter. As psychotherapist Merriam Saunders, says, “Dopamine is what stimulates the prefrontal cortex, which is the center of the brain responsible for planning, organizing, inhibition control and attention.” [2]<\/p>

But it\u2019s not all about critical thinking. Music also stirs the gray cells that respond to \u201ceuphoria-inducing stimuli\u201d. When you listen to a tune, you plug into the brain\u2019s reward system<\/strong> \u2013 associating productivity with pleasure. [3]<\/p>

There is a catch. You only enjoy this rush with music you enjoy listening to. So, the office radio won\u2019t work for everyone. <\/p>\n\n

The Right Tune for the Right Task<\/h2>\n\n

Your typical day at work probably involves different types of task. So, is listening to music better suited to some jobs over others? Many of us reach for our headphones to help do \u2018grunt work\u2019 \u2013 those repetitive, potentially boring tasks.<\/p>

In his book, This Is Your Brain on Music<\/em>, neuroscientist Daniel Levitin discovers that music doesn\u2019t just help pass the time during repetitive tasks. It actually increases concentration<\/strong>. He cites a study where music helped surgeons perform better at non-surgical tasks. [4]<\/p>

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<\/strong> with background music. [5]<\/p>

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Turning up Creativity<\/h2>\n\n

Not all scientists are convinced by the positive effects of music, though. In a 2019 study, researchers found that background music \u201csignificantly impaired\u201d verbal creative tasks such as word puzzles. [6] But what about big picture thinking? <\/p>

Research from journal PLOS ONE<\/em> found that listening to \u201chappy\u201d, \u201cupbeat\u201d and \u201cstimulating\u201d music improves our \u201cdivergent thinking<\/strong>\u201d. The researchers describe it as \u201cmaking unexpected combinations, recognizing links among remote associates, or transforming information into unexpected forms.\u201d In the world of business, you\u2019ve probably heard this as \u201cthinking outside the box\u201d. [7] <\/p>\n\n

Tuning Out<\/h2>\n\n

In his book The Eureka Factor: Aha Moments, Creative Insight, and the Brain<\/em>, Mark Beeman expands on divergent thinking. He argues that the music that makes us happy also eases anxiety \u2013 helping us lose focus<\/strong>. This is actually a good thing, because it stops you getting caught up with ideas that don\u2019t work. Instead, you look for new approaches<\/strong>. [8] <\/p>

Music, Beeman argues, slips the brain into the \u201cincubation\u201d mode when you mull over a problem at an unconscious level. It\u2019s there you \u201cdredge up\u201d new ideas. He likens coming up with creative ideas to seeing a star. \u201cYou have to look at it out of the corner of your eye,\u201d and \u201ctake your focus off the strong, obvious ideas to avoid squashing the others.\u201d [9] <\/p>

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 \u2018alpha state\u2019. That\u2019s when our brain-wave activity slows and our minds are more open to imaginative thinking, clarity of memory and intuition. In other words, \u201ceureka moments\u201d. [10] <\/p>

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Power Playlists<\/h2>\n\n

We\u2019ve 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] <\/p>

These findings chime with a study, which found that seven out of eight radiologists enjoy increased mood <\/strong>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]<\/p>

In one study, researchers piped the sound of flowing water and rainfall into an office. These natural sounds lifted employees\u2019 moods and helped them focus. Research suggests this ambient noise blankets the distracting sound<\/strong> of people chatting, printers bleeping and keyboards clicking. [14]<\/p>

Further studies reveal more surprising musical styles that help us get more done. They include: <\/p>