Over the last few months the reality of Covid19 has seeped into our lives, slowly at first, but eventually affecting most of the planet. Our way of lives has turned upside down, our daily reality has changed, and the way we live, work and communicate has had to adapt. Even our supposedly advanced culture and sophisticated technology is no match for the force of nature.
For those attempting to work from home, the continued distractions, be it housework, children, housemates, whatsapp notifications, updates etc. can make focusing difficult, despite our best efforts to be productive. You could look for a quiet space and establish “working hours” in an attempt to ward off any possible interruptions. You could create your own ergonomic work space and video conferencing area. There is one further step you can take, and at awwwards we feel that Music, is the answer! It can uplift you, energize you, as well as shield you from those domestic distractions that can get in the way of your productivity.
The awwwards team want to help you stay focused during the creative process by sharing with you 4 hours of music 🎧 >>this hand picked soundtrack<< will help digital designers reach optimum productivity.
📻 Awwwards Music for remote-working times. Spotify
Music is key for concentration, and compositions with fast beats encourage us to carry out our tasks more quickly. The different characteristics of musical compositions can strengthen certain abilities, while “noise” alone can play a similar role improving our sleep, productivity and even creativity. Some studies show that certain types of background noise increase the productivity and creativity of workers, while knowing whether to choose between white, pink or brown noise can aid creativty or focus. As any type of constant noise is quickly normalized by our brains, we stop paying it any attention as it no longer require any cognitive effort, meaning it can cover up other noises in our surroundings that could be distracting.
🎶White Noise, Pink Noise, and Brown or Brownian Noise are some examples of functional background noises.
There’s no doubt that listening to this type of music non stop could become tiring, if your task is of a more creative, purely visual nature and doesn't require so much concentration, you could listen to your favorite playlists, but beware! Avoid listening to songs with lyrics if you’re writing, because they can activate the centre of language in the brain known as Wernicke's area - which is used for the comprehension of written and spoken language.
If you need to concentrate on methodical or repetitive tasks, the best thing would be to use one of your existing playlists, songs that you have already internalized - or even repeat the same track. Alternatively, if you need to generate new ideas, you should listen to music you’ve never heard before. One interesting recommendation is to travel back to the 20th Century, to the musical vanguards, composers that paved the way for many trends, such as the electro-acoustic music of Karlheinz Stockhausen or John Cage, the Musique concrète or the pioneers of electric and computer music like Delia Derbyshire and Iannis Xenakis.
If you have any more recommendations or want to share your playlist, leave it in the comments below, now stick your headphones on and send yourself on a musical journey!