{"id":9760,"date":"2017-03-06T08:55:43","date_gmt":"2017-03-06T13:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alifeofproductivity.com\/?p=9760"},"modified":"2021-12-03T17:45:31","modified_gmt":"2021-12-03T17:45:31","slug":"how-music-affects-your-productivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chrisbailey.com\/how-music-affects-your-productivity\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything you need to know about how music affects your productivity"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Takeaway:<\/b> You are most productive when you listen to music that’s familiar and minimal, and when you listen only during tasks that don’t require your complete attention. Listening to music while doing tasks that require deeper focus can compromise your productivity\u2014regardless of the style of music.<\/span><\/p>\n

Estimated Reading Time:<\/strong> 11 minutes, 38s.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

The other day I had the chance to sit down with one of the most renowned musicians of our time.<\/strong> The reach of this man’s work is remarkable: his albums have collectively sold more than 100 million copies worldwide\u2014more than Beyonc\u00e9, Bob Dylan, Prince, the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, or Adele. His songs rake in millions of views on YouTube without batting an eye, and he has single-handedly crafted the soundtrack to countless childhoods. Many are transported to an entirely different world when they listen to his work.<\/p>\n

But while you will likely recognize this man’s music\u2014you may have even listened to it for hours like many people I know\u2014you probably don’t know his name.<\/p>\n

Let’s get back to Jerry in a second, though.<\/p>\n

The Experiment<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I write these words surrounded by the soft mumble of a half-full coffee shop.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a mild February day here in Ottawa\u2014uncharacteristically so. Three weeks after our snowiest month, it’s raining. Most of the snow has vanished, and while everyone walking past the window may be covered in rain, they aren’t bundled in their typical bulky, early-February winter attire.<\/p>\n

If you asked me to design a soundtrack to this morning, I’d start with When We Were Young<\/em>, by Adele. It’s slow and tranquil, and to me, a song a lot like this day.<\/p>\n

Music has the ability to enhance our surroundings, and in my opinion, is best paired with something else: a game of cards, a dance party, a wedding, a drink after work, or a morning writing ritual on a rainy day like this. Some days I get more accomplished listening to instrumental music, but today I’ve written more than 1,500 words listening to songs like that one by Adele. Most days, I put on the music that feels right, and when I begin to focus on my work, the music fades into the background and I forget I’m listening to it all together.<\/p>\n

This observation led me to ask an interesting question: how does music affect our productivity, or does it at all<\/em>? Do certain songs, genres and tempos lead us to focus better? Does this depend on our personality\u2014like whether we’re introverted or extroverted? Are some songs more conducive to working on certain types of tasks? Does it depend on how you’re feeling on a given day? What does the science say?<\/p>\n

I intended to find out. And for fun, I spent a month mixing up what I listened to, not just to look at the science around music and productivity, but to explore the idea subjectively as well.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For one month, I listened to:<\/p>\n