The secret to music while working is how you listen to it. Stanford cognitive neuroscientist, musician and author of the book, “This is Your Brain on Music” Daniel Levitin, said in New York Times (NYT) that “listening sessions, even with classical music playing in the background, are likely making you less productive. You’re having so much fun, that you feel more productive. However, your performance on intellectual tasks such as reading or writing suffers when you listen to music.”

Nevertheless, there are undoubtedly positive beneficial effects music has on your brain and mood. Music you enjoy can put you in a better mood and relax you. This is because, according to Levitin, “Your brain releases the neurotransmitter dopamine, which gives you a warm feeling of pleasure. You can also get a hit of the serotonin, which elevates your mood and can make it easier to focus.”

Levitin suggests, listen to music for 10 to 15 minutes before you start working. Unfortunately, music takes up some of your attentional capacity, meaning that if you listened to it while working, you’d have less attention to focus on what you mean to do.

According to a NYT Article, The Power of Music, Dr. Amit Sood, at the Mayo Clinic, said “it takes just 15 minutes to a half-hour of listening time to regain concentration. Music without lyrics usually works best.”

Another suggestion, is the act of wearing headphones, especially working in a loud place can help you focus, without listening to music during the actual work. According to a Cognitive Psychology Study from Wales University, the deviation to music while working reducing productivity, is that when you are performing monotonous tasks that are repetitive for long periods of time, such as driving, music is beneficial, and can absolutely increase your arousal, helping you pay more attention to work.

When studying or writing, or attempting for understanding or memorization, you should work in quiet, and only listen to music periodically while taking breaks or to boost mood for 10-15 minutes before the actual period of focus. However, for dull, monotonous, repetitive activities, or somewhat mindless tasks, such as exercise, music is incredibly beneficial.

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