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For remote workers, the humming sounds, distant traffic rumbles, the dings of notifications, and other such noises are not just background elements, they are potential productivity killers. In today’s digital world where remote work is common and the line between professional and personal spaces is often blurred, creating a focused environment is paramount.
If you are unable to maintain focus and concentration, don’t panic, you are not alone. We are here with a tried and tested solution. In order to channel boundless creativity and boost overall productivity, there is no better way than listening to music.
Yes, you heard us right! Beyond entertainment, music has a distinct ability to impact our minds. It can help shut out distractions, stimulate creative thoughts, and regulate mood. However, not all music is created equally. You cannot just throw your favorite pop songs or rock anthems into one playlist and play it on repeat. The key lies in handpicking tracks to create a custom playlist that addresses the unique needs and works with different mental states. One thing to keep in mind is to use cloud-based music platforms to save your playlist. This will help in case you switch jobs or your company starts a laptop return process.
Still doubtful about its effectiveness? Don’t worry, we have come prepared. Before diving into specific tracks, we will discuss why music works.
What is The Science Behind Sound and Why it Works?
Learning and understanding why music is so effective in creating the work mood is worth the time and effort. Music taps into several areas of our brain and we will discuss that below.
• Dopamine Release
Nice and delightful music promotes the release of dopamine which is a neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for pleasure, motivation, and reward. Thus, it makes challenging tasks seem more manageable.
• Alpha Brain Waves
With a frequency between 8 and 12 Hz, alpha brain waves can help you feel relaxed yet alert enough to focus on work and produce creative ideas. Particularly instrumental and ambient music induce alpha brain waves.
• Reduced Distractions
Music can act as a sound-canceling barrier to block out distracting noises that may pull your attention from work. Ultimately, the listener can better focus on the tasks at hand.
• Enhanced Cognitive Function
A Scientific American research study shows that music can significantly boost your cognitive performance in addition to providing other physical, emotional, and psychological benefits. It can help improve memory, problem-solving skills, and even mental stamina to go through something like challenging or repetitive tasks.
• Emotional Regulation
Music has a direct connection to our emotions. It can lower stress, reduce anxiety, and promote calmness, creating the perfect mood for creative working.
Our Ultimate Music Playlist To Enhance Focus and Creativity
Below, we have put forward our ultimate playlist, consisting of different instrumental, vocal, and nature music. These will provide an idea for you to create your own unique playlist (or you can snatch ours too!). Let’s get started.
Instrumental Music
Instrumental music features sounds from musical instruments without any vocals or lyrics. It can be from a single equipment or a blend of several to create melodies, harmonies, and rhythms.
1. Spacesounds by Aurum
Published by MOR Network, Spacesounds is a beautiful mix of a range of different sounds from various musical instruments, including bass and jams. It creates a subtle, consistent sonic environment that creates a vivid atmosphere, helping you channel your focus. This track is ideal to block out the world and sink into your work mode.
2. Eden by Onycs
Published by Onycs – Topic, Eden takes a slow start and gradually increases the intensity and nature of music. The sounds and transitions are beautiful, taking you on a unique and distinct experience. The track features a perfect blend of different musical instruments and a few, subtle nature and vocal sounds.
3. Hypernova by Arnyd
Created by Arnyd, Hypernova follows a futuristic theme with bass and incremental music. The different instruments slowly make their appearance. It creates a chill and concentrating environment for focused work.
4. Silent Moon by Future Skyline
Brought to you by Future Skyline, Silent Moon provides chilled vibes with liquid drops, breaks, and electronica. Listening to this, you can not only shift gears into workaholic mode, but also sit back, enjoy, and channel your creative thoughts for ideas.
5. Lush by Vonnboyd
Published by Vonnboyd – Topic, Lush is a blend of different instruments and harmonious sounds. It promotes your thinking and helps create a seamless workflow. No matter where you are, Lush can empower your work mood effectively.
6. Quantum Creativity by Magnetic Minds
Uploaded by Magnetic Minds, Quantum Creativity is a mix of different frequencies that positively impact the whole mind. These include 4.5 Hz and Binaural Beats (which play one frequency in one ear and another in the opposite ear, creating a two-tone effect). It can help channel inner creativity, brainstorming, memory, imagination, and creative process.
7. Interstellar Theme by Hans Zimmer
Composed by the legendary Hans Zimmer, Interstellar theme, day one, is as beautiful and magical as the movie itself. The music will teleport you to a different dimension where you can easily focus on your work. There are many more great originals from Mr. Hans Zimmer, and we highly encourage you to check them – we have, and they are awesome.
8. Shoreline by Andy Leech
Produced by Andy Leech, Shoreline features atmospheric ambient music with surrealistic soundscapes. It combines different melodies, rhythms, and rich textures, creating a focused environment for you. It is definitely worth listening to.
9. Time by Hans Zimmer
Another masterpiece from Hans Zimmer, Time, featured in the hit movie Inception, is nothing short of phenomenal. The perfect mix of high and low sounds, different musical instruments (guitar, cello, and more), and a steady orchestra make this a one-of-a-kind music track. You can listen to it on repeat or add the whole library of Hans Zimmer in the mix and forget the rest.
10. Relaxing Mix by Lofi Tone Art
Published by Lofi Tone Art, Relaxing Mix is a blend of chill beats, jazzy instruments, and mellow tunes straight from the 80s era. Listening to this will give you those iconic retro feels, and you can just immerse yourself into work or study for hours. There are more great tunes, mixes, and tracks from Lofi Tone Art for you to check out, sit back, and enjoy.
Vocal Music
Shifting gears from instrumental, we will now tap into the vocal music genre. Now, this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but we have handpicked the best ones that will empower your mind.
11. All of Me by John Legend
The first one in the category is from John Legend and it is called All of Me. The music features romantic lyrics, smooth vocals, and beautiful piano, all of which come together to evoke all the happy emotions. You can play this on low volume and enjoy the flow.
12. Sign of the Times by Harry Styles
Sign of the Times is one of the best emotional songs from Harry Styles. The hit pop song contains amazing lyrics and incredible music, along with the powerful vocals of Harry Styles. Not only is it great as background music to shut out distractions, but also worth understanding with full focus.
13. Down Under by Men At Work
Down Under by Men at Work is a bit old but definitely a gold-standard song. It features retro music from different musical instruments, along with beautiful lyrics and vocals. The song also has a deeper meaning, but let’s leave it for another day. For now, enjoy the song and focus on the tasks at hand.
14. Rocket Man by Elton John
Rocket Man is the iconic hit from the legendary Elton John. The song contains slow music (particularly piano) and smooth vocals that will take you on a journey. This one is definitely going into the history books as one of the greatest songs. You can play it in the background to relax your mind or when the work is slow.
15. Let Her Go by Passenger
The last addition to our vocal category is Let Her Go by Passenger. The song features beautiful piano and guitar sounds, topped by the amazing vocals from the lead singer. You can use this song when you are researching or want to refresh your mind.
Nature Music
Last but not least is our Nature music category, featuring different sounds of nature, including birds, water, forest, and more. These help relax and refresh the mind for a new start.
16. Sound Bath in the Forest by Mettaverse Music
Enter the portal of healing brought to you by Mettaverse Music through the tranquil soundscapes featured in this tune. Whether you wish to sleep better, relax a bit, focus more, or channel inner peace, this beautiful music will help you do just that, and additionally, rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit.
17. Nature Sounds Music by 321 Relaxing
This pleasing composition from 321 Relaxing is a must for every remote worker’s playlist. Featuring relaxing sounds of nature, forest, zen waterfall, and birds in the background, this relaxing music not only helps focus better but you can also use it for meditation.
18. Sunny Mornings by Soothing Relaxation
Enter the work of recovery and pleasure with this pleasing music from Soothing Relaxation. It is a perfect option for focus, study, reading, or work. Moreover, it also helps fight anxiety and stress and promotes relaxation and healing.
19. Relaxing Nature Sounds by Johnnie Lawson
This calming mix of various sounds of nature published by Johnnie Lawson is a perfect tonic for mind and body. It can melt away your stress and tension, offer relaxation, and replenish your energy. Also, you can use it as background music to tap into your creative prowess.
20. Forest Nature Sounds by Scenic Scenes
The healing forest sounds by Scenic Scenes serve as nutrition for the mind and restore a balanced state. This music features several different sounds, including birds chirping, rivers flowing, wind gushing, and more, making it ideal for workflow music.
Final Takeaway
When it comes to music, there is no one-size-fits-all. It depends on the personality of the individual. What we find as calming and relaxing, may seem odd to you. However, this list is carefully curated after hours-long research, different opinions, and long brainstorming sessions. You can confidently copy our playlist to try out yourself and we are sure it will serve well in improving focus, concentration, and energy.
Still, the remote worker’s playlist can’t be static, it can evolve with time. You can add or remove different music to adapt to different needs and goals. Just make sure to use cloud-based platforms to save your playlist in case something happens or you have to return the company’s laptop. Explore, experiment, and discover the right music that unlocks your peak performance and becomes your silent partner that empowers you to achieve more. Happy listening!