Music plays a huge role in our lives, and most of us have a special connection with it. It can turn even the dullest tasks into something more enjoyable with its rhythm and melody. A lot of people like to jam out to their favorite tunes while they work, and some even create specific playlists for different activities, whether it’s for intense studying or just chilling with a book.

But does it actually help or hurt our concentration and productivity? In a chat with an online media, Dr. Ajit Dandekar, the Head of Psychiatry and Mental Health at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital in Mumbai, shared some insights on this topic.

He mentioned that “background music, depending on its type and intensity, can help enhance or disturb focus.” This indicates that music has the potential to either keep us engaged or lead us to distraction, highlighting its dual nature in relation to our concentration levels.

Sometimes music can be a bit of a distraction

Dr. Dandekar mentioned that research indicates high-energy music, such as rock or hip-hop, can be a real distraction when you're trying to focus on tasks like reading or understanding information. People tend to perform worse with classical or lyrical music compared to working in silence. This happens because of something called the ‘attention drainage effect,’ where the lyrics or rhythms pull your focus away from what you’re doing, especially if the music is heavy on lyrics or beats.

While music can definitely make tasks more enjoyable, tracks with catchy beats or lyrics might lead you to start singing along or zoning out, just like in a Disney movie, which can derail your productivity. You might feel like the star of the show, but your work could take a hit. So, it’s best to steer clear of high-energy tunes when tackling mentally challenging tasks.

Music can be really calming

Music comes in all shapes and sizes, offering an endless variety of melodies, rhythms, and genres. Among this rich mix, some music can actually help you stay focused.

Dr. Dandekar shared insights on which kinds of music might be helpful. He noted, “For those engaged in creative or repetitive tasks, calming instrumental tunes like Santoor or flute can be really effective. Artists, sculptors, factory workers, and even folks exercising or jogging often enjoy this kind of background music to shake things up and boost their productivity.”

He wrapped up by saying, “In the end, music is a personal preference. It might take some experimenting to find the right combo of task and music, and sometimes, complete silence could be the best choice.”

For tasks that are less mentally taxing and more artistic, music can really help break the routine. While writing or reading requires a lot of focus, adding music to more repetitive or creative tasks can make them feel more engaging.

Instrumental tracks, which lack lyrics or heavy beats, can aid concentration. As Dr. Dandekar pointed out, everyone has to discover what type of music works best for them to enhance their productivity.

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