Sometimes at work, we all hit that point where staying deeply focused feels almost impossible, especially if you’re in a noisy open space, working remotely with kids playing around, or just surrounded by constant distractions…
My quick fix? I put on headphones, turn on some classical or calm instrumental music, and suddenly concentration comes faster, and work flows smoother.
And some scientists back this up:
Among the top “focus boosters” scientists highlight are: classical music, instrumentals, soundtracks & music scores, lo-fi beats, and nature sounds.
But not all music helps. In fact, familiar vocal tracks can actually hurt concentration because your brain starts following the lyrics instead of focusing on your tasks.
Personally, I always go for classical or instrumental; it never fails me ☺️
So, let me ask:
Do you listen to music while working? If yes, what’s your go-to soundtrack for focus and productivity?
Or, if you prefer silence, what’s your secret trick to stay deeply concentrated?
I totally agree, @Huwen Arnone _Deiser_ , that music is just like coffee ☕. This combo definitely sets the right vibe for focus 😅
Taking advantage of both feels like cheating 😂 🤭
See you soon!!
I don't think I can work without music. If I'm not wearing my headphones then something must be wrong.
When not working, I typically listen to funk or hip-hop music, but thanks to work I now have a large collection of YouTube sets, and DJ mixes, that are great at helping me maintain a serene environment to stay focused. Some of my favorites are pasted below:
Luca Sestak: LUCA SESTAK TRIO - FULL STUDIO LIVE SESSION - LITTLE BIG BEAT STUDIOS
Daisuke Kazaoka: Daisuke Kazaoka Live Session / REGGAE / DUB / JAPANESE FOLK / by MUSIC LOUNGE STRUT at Koenji
Fred Again..: Fred again.. - Rooftop Live (Arun’s Roof, London)
Toshiki Soejima: Toshiki Soejima : Summer Night Notes “Beat & Ambience” at BLUE NOTE PLACE / Neo-Soul Guitar
and when the work gets tough (I need to feel alive) I'll put on this banger of a set:
Chase & Status: Chase & Status | Boiler Room: London
I listen to music all the time while I work, and I can sing along as I write documentation. I have an eclectic mix of rock, country, pop, some metal, and a couple of soundtracks. I can't stand wearing headphones, though, so I generally only do this when I have my own office or work from home (or have an officemate that likes the same kind of music).
@Barbara Szczesniak , it sounds like great fun to sing with officemates :)
I'm more of a headphones person, and I even noticed that sometimes I can wear headphones without turning on the music 😅
I listen to music most of the time whilst working, and in fact find it helps me and stops from getting distracted. I find a mix of Punk, New Wave and BritPop helps when I have a deadline to hit, a mix of Roxy Music, Bowie and Japan for mellower concentrating periods, and go into discovery mode when I am just working.
[Listening to: All Good Books - Paul Weller - Illumination (03:25)]
@Sean Perry , "All Good Books" is nice 💙
It's a good approach to pick up the music for the tasks you perform :)
Music good. As long as I don't have to listen to someone else's.
Great topic @Daria Kulikova_GitProtect_io! For me it definitely depends on the type of work that I'm doing.
If I need to focus and deep dive on something then I'll head for either a jazz or electronic playlist, sometimes edging over into ambient depending on how I'm feeling. When I'm pounding out something repetitive that I just need either a distraction or energy for then I'll head for either metal or hip-hop, or maybe a bit of Prodigy or Linkin Park.
Friday afternoons are all about getting the vibe right for sliding into the weekend, so I'll be checking out new tunes or going back to tunes from my 20s. Recently I've come across Iconic by Connor Price and Nic D so that's on constant rotation.
Thanks a lot for the nice facts @Daria Kulikova_GitProtect_io, very friendly article 🙌
In comparison with @Huwen Arnone _Deiser_, my playlist for work does not depend entirely on my mood. Because maybe the mood is for some dancing and singing active songs, but I’m not able to always work with that type of songs, especially when it is some task of thorough investigation, calculating or similar. For some light tasks maybe I can, but for others I would prefer slow classical, instrumental, or even just silence.
Still, I’m that kind of person who can always manage to work even from a busy noisy café… unless there’s a screaming child haha 😅
@Daria Kulikova_GitProtect_io thanks for posting!
I have mentioned it here in the Atlassian Community many times that my go-to is the musical scores (not soundtracks) from movies, video games and shows. As you stated, the instrumental music is calming and helps me focus.
I have the privilege of a private office, so I try to rotate between having my AirPods on and a Bluetooth speaker on my desk. When I really need to shut out all noise I go for the AirPods, but when I just need the background music I switch to the BT speaker that sits on my desk. I am concerned about the effects of prolonged use of in-ear headphones, so this rotation keeps me focused and health conscious at the same time.
I'm a bit late to this conversation, but love the topic! The Bridgerton soundtrack is a favorite of mine while working. I also have a few shows I'll put on as background "noise" when I'm working from home and need some company, haha!
I agree that music can really help set the tone and help facilitate a deeper state of concentration!