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Tuesday, April 22, 2025
How music affects productivity and your brain
Fast Company: Music is everywhere—playing in coffee shops, on hold lines, in Ubers, behind YouTube ads, and of course, in your earbuds while you work. It’s so constant, we often treat it like harmless background noise. But the brain doesn’t.
I love listening to music while I work, it gives me something to listen to and distracts the part of my brain that likes to wander when I am trying to focus on homework or a project. I have learned over this past year that I can’t watch anything unlike other people as visual stimulus distracts me more than it helps. Because of this, I lean a lot into the music that I listen to and the aural experience while I am working. I think this was a super interesting article to read about. I have done what it is suggesting someone unintentionally already. Because I am so music oriented, I have different playlists that go along with the mood I’m in or the one that I want to be in. This can help me focus, recharge, get energized, or relax. After reading this article, I am going to put a little more intention into what I listen to when and how I start associating songs with tasks that I do throughout my day.
I've always been very aware of the way my mind works and the associations it creates. My brain creates very strong associations between things, especially when there's a pattern. This applies to studying and music, studying and place, and a lot of other things. The type of music I usually listen to distracts me if I'm trying to work, because I focus on the lyrics and can't fully think. So if I am listening to music while studying, I usually put on really chill music, that usually doesn't have lyrics or has really subtle vocals. But if I've been doing something for a while and my productivity has decreased, I know I need to change something up and fix my productivity. For example, if I've been going to the same study spot and three times in a row I have had low productivity, I know I need to stop going there. Sometimes it is things about the actual environment, but for me personally it is often just the association that has been created in my brain. They are possible to fix but not the easiest.
I really appreciated the discussion about the way music impacts our brain, and the different ways we can use it to relax, be more productive, or to inspire ourselves. I have specific songs that I play to motivate me when I wake up in the morning, or sometimes for a major project I’ll develop a playlist for that project. Occasionally I will just put a musical soundtrack on while doing work and it just fades into the background. An hour later I’ll have zero recollection of listening to a specific song and have to go back and actively listen to it if I want to hear it. A few times I have been so tired that I fell asleep with my playlist on, and when I woke up I knew how long I had slept because of which song I was listening to. Overall, music has different effects on me depending on the style of music, my mood, and the task I am attempting to complete.
I always hear about how there's no such thing as actually “multitasking” because your brain is unable to split up tasks like that. I know that logically this is probably true, but there’s sometimes where I feel like I have to disagree. It might not be active listening at that point, but I do find that there are times where listening to songs that I like helps me get in the rhythm. But it works with different types of tasks. Some music I listen to while doing math homework won't work if I listen to it while note-taking. I have different playlists for different moods and work, as the article suggests, and it does help. Just like the article mentions, listening to music with lyrics or music that I want to sing along to is not good for when I’m reading or writing. But it’s great for when I need to crank out a problem set. I imagine music works differently with everybody, so I’d be curious to learn if different music works better for different people.
Although this article makes some very strong points about how music can affect your brain and enhance productivity, there are a few points I’m uncertain about. Early in the article, Sherman makes the claim that “When you use the same song consistently with a particular task, your brain starts building an association. Over time, the music becomes a cue, like a mental shortcut into a focused or energized state.”I think that this energized state is true of SOME specific scenarios, for certain—I used to listen to the Hairspray soundtrack on runs and I still feel motivated and pumped up whenever “Good Morning Baltimore” plays. However, this Pavlov effect can also have the opposite outcome: I’ve grown to hate a handful of songs I once loved because I set them as my morning alarm. Now when I hear them, I feel anxious, tired, and highly irritable. While music can be helpful to increase productivity throughout the day, I think it’s important to not ruin your favorite songs by learning to associate them with stress or exhaustion.
Reading this article reminded me of a strategy I sometimes use regarding music and mood in that often when I’m trying to shift my attitude or mood, I commonly put on music that will bring about that kind of energy. Simply just experiencing the music for what it is during that time helps bring those feelings and thoughts back for that time to help me achieve what I need to do next. Plus, it adds a more reflective nature to the music and promotes further thought after the music about what you’re really trying to feel. Now not only do these songs help promote these shifts in mood, but also carry a memory or attachment to how they helped me in the past and provide useful reminders about their power. Ultimately though, what is most important is spending that time with yourself to determine what will work to motivate you and your moods and iterating through systems to best support yourself.
I used to have music at a low volume in the background while I worked since I thought it would only impede me but over time I realized that I wasn’t even listening to the lyrics while I was working so the music didn’t really have a point anymore. I do agree with the article on not having lyrical music while reading and writing since I believe it’s impossible to do both at the same time, it would be like having two conversations at the same time. In college I’ve switched to Lori music and music with no lyrics when I’m reading or sometimes writing it’s a good way to get me in the rhythm and keep me working for long periods of time, however it does take my favorite lyrical songs to keep me pumped up and energized while studying
This is an incredibly interesting and useful habit to add to one's daily schedule. I'm sure that many people unconsciously have created specific playlists that assist with the mindset shift needed in a productive environment just as if they changed their environment. I found it particularly interesting that they suggested only putting 3 songs on a playlist in order to train your brain into the different mindsets. Personally I have always struggled to listen to a playlist with only 3 songs because it can get incredibly repetitive. The article mentions that repetitiveness helps to lock in habits and create distinct shifts. I also found it interesting that they suggested even having different songs to assist in transitioning between different meetings. Being able to manage every small portion of your life can be helpful but also too many can become very overbearing. I liked the later suggestion that the article provided which was having a playlist for rest, focus, and energy.
I’m a big music-while-working fan, so its cool to see that there is a school of thought to support it. I have definitely noticed as I work that I can’t actually pay attention to what I’m listening to and work successfully at the same time, but it provides a good background underscore that I appreciate. I also feel a little vindicated by the fact that the article says not to listen to music with lyrics while doing language based tasks- I’ve always felt a little insane when my friends tell me they write essays while listening to musicals because I find it so distracting I genuinely can’t write anything. When it comes to other areas, lyrics are hit or miss for me. The more thinking a task requires, the more distracting lyrics are (like my programming homework) but the more artistic it is, the more lyrics are generally fine. Sometimes while working on art like painting or drawing I’ll even switch over to audiobooks or podcasts because the work is different enough from the thinking I do while listening that I can manage doing both at once.
This was such a cool article to read! I have heard things like this before but never so deeply. I had heard that having music that you consistently listen to when doing the same task can be helpful. This is called priming and I find it fascinating! I would love to have one playlist for each of the things that I often struggle to get in the mindspace to do. My biggest problem with this is that my music taste is so dependent on my mood and how I am feeling. I can switch from wanting to listen to girl pop, to country, to nothing, to nature noises, to 8D audio tracks, to show tunes like that. And really when I am in the mood to listen to one thing, I actively do not want to listen to anything else. Recently I have been on a no music trend of feelings which has been really interesting. I also strongly believe that half the time I do not listen to music because I am making the music in my head by singing the song I want to hear and then remixing it with some other song.
I have read studies on the benefit of listening to things while doing work or trying to focus. Everything I have read and know aligns with what this article is saying. I agree with it as I am someone who typically likes listening to things while I do work. Before I would always listen to music but recently I have been putting on mindless easy to watch shows. I remember freshman year I would watch the kids show Bluey while drafting and honestly it was incredibly productive for me. It did not take much effort to pay attention to it but it kept my brain engaged and entertained. I have also realized that sometimes when I am really really focused or have a task that needs to urgently be done I will not listen to anything. I will sometimes find that I have put my headphones on but nothing is playing and I have been like that for three hours.
I have a complicated relationship with listening to music when I work. What I have come to understand about myself is that if I am doing something with my hands, formatting things, or doing something that involves minimal brain power, then music will absolutely make me more productive. If I happen to be writing, or doing something that requires serious concentration then music tends to be a hindrance to me. The other interesting part is that I feel music will help me get started with a project. The thought of just going from stimuli to a serious concentration state is very daunting and often puts me in paralysis. So I will tend to start any projects with some music and if I need to turn it off then I can. If we are talking about those more intense brain assignments then I will put maybe very soft jazz or classical music in the background.
12 comments:
I love listening to music while I work, it gives me something to listen to and distracts the part of my brain that likes to wander when I am trying to focus on homework or a project. I have learned over this past year that I can’t watch anything unlike other people as visual stimulus distracts me more than it helps. Because of this, I lean a lot into the music that I listen to and the aural experience while I am working. I think this was a super interesting article to read about. I have done what it is suggesting someone unintentionally already. Because I am so music oriented, I have different playlists that go along with the mood I’m in or the one that I want to be in. This can help me focus, recharge, get energized, or relax. After reading this article, I am going to put a little more intention into what I listen to when and how I start associating songs with tasks that I do throughout my day.
I've always been very aware of the way my mind works and the associations it creates. My brain creates very strong associations between things, especially when there's a pattern. This applies to studying and music, studying and place, and a lot of other things. The type of music I usually listen to distracts me if I'm trying to work, because I focus on the lyrics and can't fully think. So if I am listening to music while studying, I usually put on really chill music, that usually doesn't have lyrics or has really subtle vocals. But if I've been doing something for a while and my productivity has decreased, I know I need to change something up and fix my productivity. For example, if I've been going to the same study spot and three times in a row I have had low productivity, I know I need to stop going there. Sometimes it is things about the actual environment, but for me personally it is often just the association that has been created in my brain. They are possible to fix but not the easiest.
I really appreciated the discussion about the way music impacts our brain, and the different ways we can use it to relax, be more productive, or to inspire ourselves. I have specific songs that I play to motivate me when I wake up in the morning, or sometimes for a major project I’ll develop a playlist for that project. Occasionally I will just put a musical soundtrack on while doing work and it just fades into the background. An hour later I’ll have zero recollection of listening to a specific song and have to go back and actively listen to it if I want to hear it. A few times I have been so tired that I fell asleep with my playlist on, and when I woke up I knew how long I had slept because of which song I was listening to. Overall, music has different effects on me depending on the style of music, my mood, and the task I am attempting to complete.
I always hear about how there's no such thing as actually “multitasking” because your brain is unable to split up tasks like that. I know that logically this is probably true, but there’s sometimes where I feel like I have to disagree. It might not be active listening at that point, but I do find that there are times where listening to songs that I like helps me get in the rhythm. But it works with different types of tasks. Some music I listen to while doing math homework won't work if I listen to it while note-taking. I have different playlists for different moods and work, as the article suggests, and it does help. Just like the article mentions, listening to music with lyrics or music that I want to sing along to is not good for when I’m reading or writing. But it’s great for when I need to crank out a problem set. I imagine music works differently with everybody, so I’d be curious to learn if different music works better for different people.
Although this article makes some very strong points about how music can affect your brain and enhance productivity, there are a few points I’m uncertain about. Early in the article, Sherman makes the claim that “When you use the same song consistently with a particular task, your brain starts building an association. Over time, the music becomes a cue, like a mental shortcut into a focused or energized state.”I think that this energized state is true of SOME specific scenarios, for certain—I used to listen to the Hairspray soundtrack on runs and I still feel motivated and pumped up whenever “Good Morning Baltimore” plays. However, this Pavlov effect can also have the opposite outcome: I’ve grown to hate a handful of songs I once loved because I set them as my morning alarm. Now when I hear them, I feel anxious, tired, and highly irritable. While music can be helpful to increase productivity throughout the day, I think it’s important to not ruin your favorite songs by learning to associate them with stress or exhaustion.
Reading this article reminded me of a strategy I sometimes use regarding music and mood in that often when I’m trying to shift my attitude or mood, I commonly put on music that will bring about that kind of energy. Simply just experiencing the music for what it is during that time helps bring those feelings and thoughts back for that time to help me achieve what I need to do next. Plus, it adds a more reflective nature to the music and promotes further thought after the music about what you’re really trying to feel. Now not only do these songs help promote these shifts in mood, but also carry a memory or attachment to how they helped me in the past and provide useful reminders about their power. Ultimately though, what is most important is spending that time with yourself to determine what will work to motivate you and your moods and iterating through systems to best support yourself.
I used to have music at a low volume in the background while I worked since I thought it would only impede me but over time I realized that I wasn’t even listening to the lyrics while I was working so the music didn’t really have a point anymore. I do agree with the article on not having lyrical music while reading and writing since I believe it’s impossible to do both at the same time, it would be like having two conversations at the same time. In college I’ve switched to Lori music and music with no lyrics when I’m reading or sometimes writing it’s a good way to get me in the rhythm and keep me working for long periods of time, however it does take my favorite lyrical songs to keep me pumped up and energized while studying
This is an incredibly interesting and useful habit to add to one's daily schedule. I'm sure that many people unconsciously have created specific playlists that assist with the mindset shift needed in a productive environment just as if they changed their environment. I found it particularly interesting that they suggested only putting 3 songs on a playlist in order to train your brain into the different mindsets. Personally I have always struggled to listen to a playlist with only 3 songs because it can get incredibly repetitive. The article mentions that repetitiveness helps to lock in habits and create distinct shifts. I also found it interesting that they suggested even having different songs to assist in transitioning between different meetings. Being able to manage every small portion of your life can be helpful but also too many can become very overbearing. I liked the later suggestion that the article provided which was having a playlist for rest, focus, and energy.
I’m a big music-while-working fan, so its cool to see that there is a school of thought to support it. I have definitely noticed as I work that I can’t actually pay attention to what I’m listening to and work successfully at the same time, but it provides a good background underscore that I appreciate. I also feel a little vindicated by the fact that the article says not to listen to music with lyrics while doing language based tasks- I’ve always felt a little insane when my friends tell me they write essays while listening to musicals because I find it so distracting I genuinely can’t write anything. When it comes to other areas, lyrics are hit or miss for me. The more thinking a task requires, the more distracting lyrics are (like my programming homework) but the more artistic it is, the more lyrics are generally fine. Sometimes while working on art like painting or drawing I’ll even switch over to audiobooks or podcasts because the work is different enough from the thinking I do while listening that I can manage doing both at once.
This was such a cool article to read! I have heard things like this before but never so deeply. I had heard that having music that you consistently listen to when doing the same task can be helpful. This is called priming and I find it fascinating! I would love to have one playlist for each of the things that I often struggle to get in the mindspace to do. My biggest problem with this is that my music taste is so dependent on my mood and how I am feeling. I can switch from wanting to listen to girl pop, to country, to nothing, to nature noises, to 8D audio tracks, to show tunes like that. And really when I am in the mood to listen to one thing, I actively do not want to listen to anything else. Recently I have been on a no music trend of feelings which has been really interesting. I also strongly believe that half the time I do not listen to music because I am making the music in my head by singing the song I want to hear and then remixing it with some other song.
I have read studies on the benefit of listening to things while doing work or trying to focus. Everything I have read and know aligns with what this article is saying. I agree with it as I am someone who typically likes listening to things while I do work. Before I would always listen to music but recently I have been putting on mindless easy to watch shows. I remember freshman year I would watch the kids show Bluey while drafting and honestly it was incredibly productive for me. It did not take much effort to pay attention to it but it kept my brain engaged and entertained. I have also realized that sometimes when I am really really focused or have a task that needs to urgently be done I will not listen to anything. I will sometimes find that I have put my headphones on but nothing is playing and I have been like that for three hours.
I have a complicated relationship with listening to music when I work. What I have come to understand about myself is that if I am doing something with my hands, formatting things, or doing something that involves minimal brain power, then music will absolutely make me more productive. If I happen to be writing, or doing something that requires serious concentration then music tends to be a hindrance to me. The other interesting part is that I feel music will help me get started with a project. The thought of just going from stimuli to a serious concentration state is very daunting and often puts me in paralysis. So I will tend to start any projects with some music and if I need to turn it off then I can. If we are talking about those more intense brain assignments then I will put maybe very soft jazz or classical music in the background.
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