Whether you’re taking a stroll through the park on a sunny day, completing an exercise routine, getting ready for a night out, or studying hard for an upcoming exam, what your ears hear in your headphones can seriously enhance or break the current mood at hand.
Listening to a heavy metal playlist during a time of relaxation and chill music during a time of intense exercise doesn’t exactly hit the right mark. Creating moods through music matters more than you may think. Let’s take a look at the types of tunes and music genres that accompany everyday activities best.
During your work day
Depending on your job type this may vary, but for a large majority of people who work in offices and co-working spaces throughout the world, the best music for working is a type that aids you in focus and concentration, and helps increase productivity. Not only does listening to music at work help you drown out surrounding noises that may be cause for distraction, but it can also make you feel more upbeat and energised. If your work requires you to be sat at a computer for eight hours straight, happy or uplifting music can help to inspire and elicit positive emotions. Other genres like classical, instrumental, soft jazz, and even ambient music or sounds from nature can enhance concentration. “The Mozart effect” supports this as research has shown that listening to Mozart’s sonata for two pianos increases reasoning skills for at least 10-15 minutes. So instead of downloading playlists full of complicated lyrics that may distract, put some classical music on repeat and enjoy a background full of soothing sounds that may even help you work faster.
Headphones can also be a sort of “do not disturb” symbol, signalling to others in an office that you are hard at work
While gaming online
For the experienced gamer, nothing is more important than the environment in which they play. Things like internal lighting, nice seating and a high-quality headset are extremely important and can actually affect performance. Along the same lines, music plays a big role in an online gamer’s experience. For games that are action-heavy many prefer forms of rock music or even heavy metal to increase momentum, whereas strategic games such as poker or chess may require calming, slower-paced tunes that promote concentration. Some even say that they prefer to listen to nothing while gaming online as it can be distracting either way. Others opt for silence so they can hear the sounds of the games whether it be an explosion or light dinging, as it helps them to be completely immersed in the activity. The choice really depends on the type of game and personality of the player, however you can’t go wrong with the fast-paced, high-energy elements in J-pop, a popular genre among many gamers.
Getting ready to go out
When those precious weekends come around you know it’s time for one thing and one thing only: grabbing drinks with friends and letting the week’s worries roll right off your shoulders. Although it’s important to consider music genre in the club, bar, or restaurant you’re going to, the music you to get ready to, if chosen well, can start the night out on a good footing. Old school throwbacks from 2000s hip hop to 70s and 80s dance music are great options. In general, music that you can sing along to is the best type for this situation. While some may argue that clothes, accessories, or shoes matter more than a playlist, essential tunes will set the tone for the night ahead and emotionally prepare you for a night off the couch.
During exercising
Out of all the activities on this list, music can perhaps have the greatest influence on your exercise routine and, as such, many people don’t leave their houses to work out without a reliable pair of headphones. While the right type of music can differ depending on what you prefer, upbeat, high-energy music can really push a person towards their fitness goals. In fact, there are real scientific reasons to listen to music while exercising, as many studies prove that the correlation between the two is beneficial.
Not only does the right music make exercising more fun, but it can also distract you from noticing things like levels of fatigue, breathing patterns, and background sounds
