Music at work: tips, benefits and mistakes to avoid

Listening to music at work is no longer an exception. At home or in open space, for many, it has become a daily ritual, whether to focus, motivate themselves or simply create a bubble of calm. But be careful: you still have to choose carefully what to listen to, and how. An overview of the best practices to adopt.

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Editor's note: All links shared in this article point to Spotify. The albums mentioned are also available on other audio streaming platforms (Deezer, Apple Music...). As for playlists, you will find their equivalent on other platforms by searching by keyword (see the names of the playlists at the end of the article).

What are the effects of music at work?

An increasingly widespread practice

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Whether working from home or at work, more and more employees listen to music while working. Headsets over your ears or in the discreet background, the idea is to create a more pleasant environment conducive to concentration.

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Our tip: you can also put the headphones over your ears without listening to music, simply to warn colleagues in the office that you have switched to “Do not disturb” mode. Attention, some people still do not understand the message.

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Impact on concentration and productivity

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Some music, especially instrumental music, can improve concentration by reducing outside distractions. Regular rhythms, calm environments, and natural sounds encourage the focus on analytical or repetitive tasks.

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Effect on well-being and stress reduction

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Music has a direct effect on the emotional state: it can soothe, motivate, or cheer you up. Listening to songs you enjoy reduces mental fatigue and improves resilience to stress, especially during intense days.

What music should you choose according to your activity?

Playlists for manual or repetitive tasks

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Dynamic, rhythmic music (electro soft, pop, pop, pop rock, hip hop) is ideal for motivating yourself and maintaining a good level of energy without taking up attention.

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🎧 The editorial playlist:

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• Play, Moby: https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/4KZWx8zo5ym89aopr0dBIb?si=1DDpb15lS42jIWmkTohaWQ
• Torches, Foster The People: https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/7Kmmw7Z5D2UD5MVwdm10sT?si=A8qufpc0TcysnZYJHl9e4w
• Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix: https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/7g4qoHjkYvfFkXJEZCjtc1?si=rONR3tKTTjOypBp7tMO01w

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Playlists for analytical or concentration tasks

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Opt for quiet pieces, without words, with slow and constant rhythms: classical music, ambient music, solo piano or movie soundtracks. They allow you to immerse yourself in background work without distraction.

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🎧 The editorial playlist:

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• (), Sigur Rós: https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/3FR8CV7OSyZDnxneavnh8t?si=8cBPOsD5Qeqz5aN4lJAKig
• Re:member, Olafur Arnalds: https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/6JpQGIi2he6iskzR4aLwPG?si=OQbQcqokQl-ZDJMOKCjfMQ
• The Piano: Music From The Motion Picture (BO The Piano Lesson), Michael Nyman: https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/2QxIR22Sj9xGc4mOTN550A?si=e18dvV8XTd2ICgs8rbhLMg

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Playlists for creative tasks

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Bet on more original or inspiring music: jazz, world music, synthwave, more exciting movie soundtracks. They stimulate the imagination and lateral thinking.

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🎧 The editorial playlist:

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• Black Sands, Bonobo: https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/5m1RkwKeU7MV0Ni6PH2lPy?si=yV7xAdjTSUeNB5PcZxB43Q
• Butterfly Blue, Mallrat: https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/52jN5oOP2tn7TnL8PNoT8Z?si=TH1R6DsfTWqKtjuENG_BbQ
• Kid A, Radiohead: https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/6GjwtEZcfenmOf6l18N7T7?si=drR_1r1CT8qaceCkes6liQ

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The styles to avoid in the office

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Songs that are too loud, have omnipresent lyrics, or have a changing pace can be counterproductive. They require too much attention and can annoy colleagues in a shared work environment.

Listening to music at work: best practices

Respect your professional environment

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In an open space or a shared office, listening must remain discreet. Headphones or headphones are essential, and it is essential to remain available for colleagues and not to isolate yourself completely.

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Our advice: pay attention to the “Noise Reduction” mode on your AirPods (or other headphones with an equivalent function), which could prevent you from hearing your colleague who has been gesticulating for 5 minutes at the other end of the room, looking annoyed and about to send you an angry message on Teams or Slack.

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Use the right hardware

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Choose headphones that are comfortable and have good sound quality. Here several options are available to you:

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· The wireless earbuds like AirPods Pro, Samsung Galaxy Buds, Huawei FreeBuds...

· The headsets (Bluetooth or wired) such as Bose Headphones 700, Jabra Evolve, Steelseries Arctis Nova 1 (which we use at the editorial office)...

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Find the right mood playlists

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To get in a particular mood, numerous thematic playlists exist on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, or YouTube, created by the platforms themselves or by the users.

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They offer hours of music and generally have names like “Focus”, “Deep Work”, “Creative Flow”... (type these keywords into your favorite streaming platform, then search by playlist).

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🎧 The editorial playlists (on Spotify):

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• Electronic Focus : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX0wMD4IoQ5aJ?si=a5847de6e7364446
• Focus Flow : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWZZbwlv3Vmtr?si=0ad47e8240724ab3
• Music for a Workday : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXcsT4WKI8W8r?si=0130a6001435417e
• Deep Focus : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWZeKCadgRdKQ?si=d87c2ee0518b4863

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Numerous ambient playlists are also available on YouTube.

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In the end: a question of balance

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Just as total silence can be overwhelming, continuous music can become intrusive. Alternate moments of silence and musical sequences according to your level of attention and the tasks at hand.

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Not to mention listening to the requests of colleagues during the days at the office.

Frequently asked questions

What types of music are best suited to work with?

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Instrumental music, soft, without words: classical, ambient, lo-fi, piano.

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How to listen to music without disturbing in an open space?

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With headphones closed and keeping a reasonable volume, while remaining available for colleagues.

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Are there specific playlists to help you work better?

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Yes, most streaming platforms offer playlists called “concentration”, “focus” or “deep work” designed for this.

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