Everyone needs to be in sync with their work to perform at their best, and sometimes, you need your own music to stay focused.

Although there’s no foolproof list of songs that will make you magically more productive, there’s a decent chunk of science that says music can help you at work, so creating a focused playlist is essential. Here are some tips to ensure your music works for you rather than against you.

First, Add Your Favourite Songs for a Dopamine Boost.

The key to a productivity-boosting playlist isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Start by adding your favourite jams; this will provide a solid foundation to build on.

Several studies have shown that listening to your favourite music while working can be helpful as it increases your dopamine levels. Experiencing higher levels of dopamine is said to stimulate the brain and improve your productivity levels.

A 2020 study found that listening to music can enhance memory and recall. Participants with higher dopamine levels were also better at remembering specific day-to-day events.

Participants also responded more positively to music they found “pleasant”, highlighting the importance of including tracks that you enjoy.

A Double-Edged Sword at Work

Now that you have a solid foundation, it’s time to refine your playlist. While certain music can motivate you to complete specific tasks, it can also be distracting in other situations.

A 2019 study found that listening to more “complex” music—music with greater variety in tone and frequency—motivated participants to perform simple tasks. This is because these tasks underutilise a person’s attentional resources; helping maintain focus on completion.

For mechanical tasks such as keying figures into spreadsheets or sorting e-mails, pop and rock songs can help you to stay energetic as you work through them. Plus, if you want to feel like a hero for finishing your tasks, tune in to your favourite movie or video game soundtracks.

However, these songs may have the opposite effect when working on tasks that require cognitive skills, such as studying or writing a report. In such cases, cognitive overload may occur, and your favourite music can be perceived as noise and can be mentally taxing.

So, if you need to do a lot of thinking, avoid the Billboard Top 100 playlist. What other choices do you have?

Find Lyrics Distracting? Try Classical, White Noise, or Pink Noise.

If you can’t listen to Sabrina Carpenter or Taylor Swift while working, experts suggest that listening to music without lyrics might be a better choice. If your workplace is noisy, listening to classical or ambient music (like Brian Eno or even rain sounds!) can help you block out unnecessary noise.

Another popular alternative is white noise or pink noise, which sounds somewhat like radio static. While some find it calming as background noise, others may find it irritating—an acquired taste, if you will.

White noise sounds like rain and is made up of frequencies audible to the human ear. It is best used for increasing concentration or masking sound out. Pink noise is more intensely focused on lower frequencies, making it deeper than white noise. It sounds like a deep waterfall, and it’s better for improving memory and blocking noises.

Ensure That Your Music Works for You, Not Against You

At the end of the day, work with music you enjoy listening to. Just because experts say it can make you more productive doesn’t mean you will be more productive if you’re not enjoying the groove.

Hence, here are some tips to help you find a happy medium and create the best work playlist for yourself:

1. Choose tracks you are familiar with, as this will prevent distractions from lyrics or beats. You can rely on your “on repeat” playlists on your favourite music streaming apps while you work.
2. If you find yourself getting distracted, try instrumental or softer versions of your favourite songs. For example, if you enjoy listening to Korean Pop or K-pop music, consider listening to piano covers while you work.
3. If all else fails, try classical, ambient, or coloured noise.
4. Remember to choose upbeat tunes for repetitive tasks and tracks with fewer variations in tone for cognitively demanding tasks.

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