By Chelsea Babin

Listening to music can improve our emotional state, help us focus, and even help us be more amiable, cooperative people. So, of course, music can play a great role in your every day work life! Are you looking to create a playlist to help you be more productive, happy, and friendly on the job? Here are 5 tips for creating your ideal productivity playlist.

1. Songs You Love: When it comes to boring, repetitive, or monotonous tasks, nothing can motivate you better than listening to some of your favorite songs. When you’re performing simple or repetitive tasks, have a playlist of some of your favorites to jam to. It will make the work go faster and it will make you happier to do tasks that are often pushed aside because they’re boring or less appealing than others.

2. Learning Should Be Lyric Free: Whether you’re learning a new technology, company procedure, or something else, music can help you concentrate and better retain that information if it’s classical or instrumental. Unfortunately, songs with lyrics or a fast, repetitive pace can often be distracting when you’re learning. If you’re going to have a playlist while you learn, make sure it’s packed with instrumental or classical music and nothing else.

3. 50-80 Beats Per Minute: When you’re solving problems, coming up with creative solutions, or brainstorming in general, you’ll want to create a playlist of songs that are paced at 50-80 beats per minute. Why? Because this rate helps induce an alpha state in your brain. You will be come calm, alert, and your concentration will be heightened. This is the perfect scenario for problem solving or being creative!

4. Eliminate Random Noise: If you work in an open office, you may often find yourself distracted by random noises, conversations happening near you, or even the general sounds of ten or more people typing at once. If you’re working on something you need to really focus on, this is a great time to put in a playlist of softer, more ambient music that is lyric free. When you use this type of music on your concentration playlist you’re more able to eliminate random noise and focus on the work in front of you.

5. Scores: Videogame or movie scores are often designed to create certain emotions while not distracting from the scene. For this reason, they’re the perfect solution for your productivity playlist! If you’re working on something challenging or learning something new, try creating a playlist of videogame or movie scores to elevate your mood and motivation without taking away your concentration.

Music plays a huge part in our culture and most people love some form of it. If you’re looking to reap the productivity benefits that music can have on your workday, use these 5 tips to create your perfect productivity playlist for any work scenario.