The song that will boost your productivity, according to a neuroscientist: "It creates a ritual for your brain and a very strong connection."
While working (and depending on the type of work they do), some people prefer to listen to music. What we didn't know is that, beyond a pleasurable routine , this habit could have benefits for concentration and productivity , according to experts.
Neuroscientist Friederike Fabritius, author of The Brain-Friendly Workplace, is clear about what kind of music will have the best effect on productivity, as she is a firm believer in listening to music at the desk. "Here's how you can choose music that increases your productivity, according to science," the expert begins.
The best song to concentrate, according to the expert
Friederike Fabritius says she's been using the same song to focus for decades. "It's Bach's 'Goldberg Variations.' This song (which consists of 30 variations) lasts almost an hour and a half, and you can accomplish a lot in that time."
When she needs to focus, the expert always listens to the same song and instantly enters a state of flow with her tasks. "In fact, you can condition your brain to flow and focus by always listening to the same music when the goal is to concentrate . Create a ritual for your brain, and you'll have achieved a very strong connection," she says.
With this routine of listening to the Goldberg Variations whenever you need to sit down and focus on a task, "with the first notes, the brain receives the signal that it's time to get to work," he explains.
How to choose music that makes us more productive
Scientific research supports the idea that listening to classical music while working , as Fabritius does, can improve concentration and productivity. A study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that listening to relaxing music helped students concentrate better while studying.
To maintain attention and productivity, scientists recommend a moderate level of arousal, neither too high nor too low, when it comes to music. The neuroscientist explains that it's best to "choose music with a slow to moderate tempo , a predictable tone and rhythmic structure, and lower levels of noise."
Fabritius adds: "You shouldn't listen to loud, intense disco or techno music. Relaxing, peaceful classical music without lyrics encourages concentration rather than something that might further distract you. However, the same piece of music can provoke different emotional reactions in different listeners."
ReferencesRebecca Jane Scarratt, Ole Adrian Heggli, Peter Vuust, Makiko Sadakata . 'Music that is used while studying and music that is used for sleep share similar musical features, genres and subgroups'. Scientific Reports. Accessed online at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-31692-8 on June 8, 2025.
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