The concept of listening to music while working has been a subject of debate for some time now. There are those that believe it can hurt performance and productivity, and those who believe it is integral to the creative process. Whichever side you fall on, there is indeed an effect that music has when you’re working.
Where should you go for your music, and what genres offer the most cognitive value? Join us as we explore these questions and help you find that perfect playlist to get your mind working on overdrive!
3 Resources for Music to Enjoy While Working (And Top Genres)
Whether you’re a composer or a writer like myself, we all suffer from things like writer’s block and exhaustion from the daily grind. Listening to music is a great way to clear up the obstacles in your path to success.
It keeps your mind engaged throughout repetitive tasks and triggers dopamine in your body, which is the same neurotransmitter that releases when you’re eating great food or doing something you enjoy. In short, music keeps you happy and focused.
When you’re working, consider listening to these types of genres for their unique effects:
- Jazz – Smooth and rhythmic audio without lyrics is a great way to keep your brain engaged.
- Classical – Classical music has long been shown to promote healthy thinking and productivity. Composers like Bach, Chopin, Mozart, and Beethoven will do right by you when you’re working
- Minimalist Electronic – If you don’t mind a little modern music, you can find some great artists in the electronic scene who produce minimalist masterpieces that provide great background noise without demanding your attention.
- Ambient – This type of music is meant to simply fill the void of silence, and works great for people who just need something happening in the background.
- Movie/Video Game Soundtracks – Whether they incorporate full orchestras or take a more retro approach, soundtracks are always a good choice for their consistent rhythm and lack of lyrics.
Ready to dive in and find out how music fuels your success online? Here are three resources I absolutely love using for workplace music.
1. Brain.fm
Brain.fm is an amazing service that mixes neuroscience with music in some incredibly profound ways. With the option to try it out for free, and the occasional deals on lifetime subscriptions, this resource does wonders for productivity.
Not only does it work with your everyday focus, but the program also has tracks for meditation, relaxing, napping, and sleeping. These tracks are hand-picked by an A.I and backed by the support of countless scientific studies. The effect is immediate and long-lasting. It’s easily one of my favorite places to find high-quality music to boost every aspect of my life.
2. Pandora
Pandora took the internet by storm when it released. As one of the first personalized internet radios, it offered a great way to access music based on your tastes and needs. While it does use ads for the free version, you can create personalized stations on this platforms based on genres, artists, or even individual songs.
A like/dislike system allows you to provide feedback and gives Pandora the chance to tailor the music to your tastes. It’s quick and easy to pull up and start using, so it won’t distract you from work. On the contrary, it will make things even easier and more enjoyable.
3. SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a popular platform for musicians and creators to share their work and for people like you and I to discover new music we otherwise would have never heard. With millions of songs to choose from, this is an excellent resource for finding up and coming artists or little-known jams that could easily boost your productivity.
It’s also a great place to upload your own music if you’re a composer and get feedback or grow your audience.
Final Thoughts
Music while working is a no-brainer. Choosing the right genre and the right playlist can boost your productivity by a large margin. What resources would you recommend for finding music to listen to while working? Let us know in the comments!
About the author:
Rafael Reyes is a passionate writer and blogger who loves the power of music to fuel both creativity and productivity.
That’s great confirmation for me. I am a homeschool mom of 3 teenagers, & my kids listen to music all day long! When we play family games, Pandora is always going. My son is a classical piano student, & in this mom’s opinion an all around genius. 🙂 My daughter is preparing to take her GED because she’s not interested in college, & my son is about to begin dual enrollment because he has talked about college since he was 10!