Can listening to music really be a way to boost your productivity?
I'll be the first to say that this claim sounded like it was made up; A clever way to market a streaming music / radio service. It's certainly a way to stand out in a crowded market.
What is Brain.fm?
Brain.fm (20% Discount Here) is a streaming service that plays music 'backed by science' that helps you focus, relax and sleep.
In simple terms, the science behind Brain FM is woven into normal-sounding music tracks, typically heard as these pulsing waves that (as far as I understand it) pulse in time and at the right frequencies to engage your brain to certain functions.
Does it actually work?
I've been using Brain FM for the last 6-8 months now, and I can definitely tell you that it's improved my ability to focus on the task at hand.
Before Brain FM, I'd typically throw on my favourite Spotify favourite and then get down to work. Tapping my feet and hands, singing along - it's great.
But since trying out this new science-based brain music, I have to say I'm impressed!
It's difficult to explain. I enjoy the music, but when it's playing - I find myself focusing on the task I'm doing. As long as I wear a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones to prevent any outside distractions, I do actually find myself to be more productive!
Does Brain.FM help you sleep?
I recently took an 8-hour flight from LA to London on a fully-booked flight.
I decided to really put this to the test and pre-downloaded 8 hours' worth of music to help me sleep.
Once we'd taken off - I popped in my Beats Fit Pro headphones, turned on noise cancellation and started Brain.FM off.
To my surprise, it helped! I fell asleep quickly, and I woke up feeling semi-refreshed (as much as possible on an 8-hour flight sleeping whilst sitting up on a busy plane!) a few hours later, still listening to the music.
Brain.FM and ADHD
One of the most interesting areas of the service is the option to turn the effects of the 'brain stuff' up or down.
I find this generally makes the music pulsate stronger the higher you go, but since there is also a setting that says it helps even those with ADHD concentrate, I'd love to know if this is true or not.
I don't have ADHD, so if you do, try Brain.FM (Link for 20% off!) - let me know if it does so I can update this!
Some final thoughts on brain.fm and other ways to increase productivity
When it comes to staying productive, there's no silver bullet -- but worth trying out tools like brain.fm to see if it works for you. It's a relatively new service that creates music specifically designed to boost productivity and creativity. Additionally, some studies have found that listening to specific types of music can positively influence your work output in various ways; how much benefit you draw form this practice is worth exploring. If brain.fm isn't quite your cup of tea, a few simple things like taking regular breaks and changing your environment can also help shift you into a more productive headspace – what works best for you may take some experimentation to find out!
Grab 20% off Brain.FM here and let me know how you find it.
