6 Science-Backed Playlists for Improving Your Productivity

Athletes use it to trick their bodies into pushing that extra mile. Students use it to keep the bloodflow pumping to stay focused and energized studying for the next big exam. Surgeons have used music to steady their hands and increase the accuracy of their abilities on the operating table. Some people that have a hard time falling asleep use music to mentally transport to a relaxing realm to get their mind and body ready to sleep. Music can definitely be used as a tool. It can be a bit distracting to spend 30 seconds choosing the next song that fits your mood or activity every time the last song ends. Playlists are the new big thing! There are dozens and dozens of playlist services. Songza, Spotify, Apple music, even youtube! These playlists are sometimes created by computer programs, sometimes shared by music enthusiasts on social media, and sometimes hand picked and curated by a professional "playlister".   There are so many genres to explore. Its much easier to take a explore a new city when you're being led around by a local tour guide. So here is a list of 6 scientifically proven playlists to improve your productivity. Music is a very personal thing, so not everyone will like every playlist. Its a nice sample of some of the best thats out there! Take a musical journey though these 6 playlists and see what you like. Classical Music One of the most frequently cited studies related to music and productivity is the "Mozart Effect." This popularized hypothesis that listening to Mozart would improve the intelligence of the listener stemmed from research conducted in the early nineties by researchers Gordon Shaw, Frances Rauscher, and Katherine Ky. Their original study, which appeared in the October 1993 issue of Nature, employed 36 Cal-Irvine students who were divided into three groups. Group one listen to a Mozart selection, while group two listened to a relaxation tape, and group three endured 10 minutes of silence. Afterwards, all 36 students were issued the same test, in which the Mozart group averaged an eight to nine point increase in their IQ compared to the remaining groups. Since then, many researchers have gone on to explore the mental benefits of listening to classical music. For example, according to a 2013 study from American Journal of Occupational Therapy, listening to classical music improved the visual attention of stroke patients dealing with unilateral neglect (UN). Think classical music might work for you? Check out this classical-influenced playlist to find out for yourself:  2. Video Game Soundtracks Whether you're a hardcore gamer or you've never picked up a controller in your life, video game soundtracks might just be the solution to your concentration woes. Think about it: Playing a video game requires a lot of focus. To make it to the next level, players commonly have to avoid traps, dodge obstacles, and escape a handful of "near death" experiences. As a result, the music selection for video games is often very strategic, in [...]

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