Does Music Help You Focus Better on Work & Studying?
Can Music Help Us Focus?
If you’re struggling to focus at work or at school, you’re not alone. With all of the distractions in the world right now, it can be difficult to stay on task or avoid the feelings of being overwhelmed that can prevent us from getting the job done.
One of the best ways to focus is to put music on in the background as background noise when we’re working or studying. In fact, the right music has even been shown to improve memory function, cognitive performance, and boost the feeling of motivation.
Here are a few of the reasons why music can help you to complete your next project or ace the next test:
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It Stimulates the Brain: One of the reasons that music is so helpful to our ability to focus is that it can actually stimulate our brains and brain activity. It engages our brain's cognitive functions and encourages attention and focus on new material.
Reading comprehension and cognitive tasks can also improve. It can also have a positive impact on your attention span.
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It Improves Our Mood: The right music can help to put us in the right mood to tackle even the most daunting project. Music can reduce or eliminate feelings of stress, so we can focus on getting the job done.
Listening to relaxing music can also lower your heart rate and blood pressure.
- It Blocks Out Distractions: Sometimes, our lack of focus just comes from the many distractions all around us. Music can help us to block out the sound of coworkers or roommates, and make it easier to ignore messages and phone calls until our work is complete.
Best Types of Music for Work and Study
You want to make sure that you’ve picked the best music for your study or work session. Making a playlist on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, or Pandora will help you stay off your device and get into focus mode.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when picking your study soundtrack:
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Classical Is Best: Classical music is a great option for a study or work support, because it doesn’t have any distracting lyrics, but the storytelling and drama can keep your brain engaged.
Some examples of classical music would be classical composers like Beethoven, Mozart (known for Mozart's sonata), and Debussy.
- Go Modern: If you don’t like classical music, then you have other great options. Action movie and video game soundtracks or even EDM at the right tempo can support productive studying habits.
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What’s the Tempo? You want to find a type of music that isn’t going to be overwhelming or make you feel panicked. It is recommended to pick music with 60-70 beats per minute for study.
Depending on your personal preference, some people may prefer upbeat music, nature sounds (like waterfalls), or even white noise. Finding the right kind of music can make a world of a difference, so pick a category/genre or two that you like the best.
- Don’t Get Too Comfy: Music is great for work productivity or studying, but you won’t want to pick a soundtrack that puts you to sleep. Find songs that won’t distract you, but won’t fade completely into the background, either. Loud music may work for some people, while it may not be helpful for others.
Conclusion
If you’re struggling to focus when you’re at work or at school, don’t worry. There are many ways to manage distractions and stay on task, including listening to music. Cue up a great album or study playlist, brew a cup of matcha tea from Tenzo Tea, and hit the ground running on your next big project today.
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