When we think of the tools of the trade associated with writing, it’s a relatively short list. There’s a pen, notebook, laptop, printer — and that’s about it. But what if I told you that a pair of headphones could (and should) be added to that list? In this post, I’ll be exploring some of the ways in which music can help us realise our writing goals.

How is it possible for music to help us write? While music isn’t going to magically improve your writing ability, when used correctly it can assist with productivity, focus, and tone. It’s also true that there are circumstances where music can harm your work; I’ll be considering when and where you should be listening to music, along with the types of music that will help you the most.

Productivity

Let’s start with productivity. I like to use the analogy of a jogger on a morning run to explain this one, since running and writing both require perseverance and stamina — albeit physical and mental. How often do you see a jogger running down the street with headphones on? Part of the fun might be pretending you’re in an 80s training montage, but there’s science at work here. A study by _____ in _____ showed that runners perform _____% better when listening to music while they run. Similarly,  a____ study showed that when people are performing tasks that require less focus, music can help them achieve results quicker. I’ve found this to be true when working on writing tasks that I’m comfortable with, such as copywriting for familiar brands. The act of listening to music while writing __________. I suggest listening to something upbeat with a quick tempo.

Focus

It’s a common notion that silence is the best environment to achieve focus, possibly based on the fact that environments dedicated to study (e.g. libraries) maintain a quiet atmosphere. This can vary from person to person, but there’s evidence to suggest that the right type of music can actually  improve focus rather than impede it. The biggest mistake is listening to music with vocals while you write, as this forces your brain to concentrate on two things at once. Try listening to ambient music that’s not too upbeat; video game and film soundtracks can be brilliant for this as they are designed to support the target of your attention  without interrupting your focus.

When we are consciously focused on a single task, our unconscious attention system remains alert to sights and sounds in our surroundings that might be important. This means that any minor distractions (such as background noise  in an office environment or coffee shop) can seem more distracting when we’re hard at work. Music dampens our brain’s unconscious efforts to sabotage our focus by providing non-invasive noise. While older studies have shown that certain genres of music like classical pieces have a greater effect on maintaining focus, more recent studies suggest that it may simply be down to personal preference. To find out if music can help you maintain focus while writing, I suggest testing the waters by listening to lyricless songs in genres you personally enjoy.