Guide / 03

Using music for stress relief at work or study

You can’t always leave the desk. A few minutes of the right music, used the right way, can still make a real break.

Make breaks real breaks

A break spent scrolling often doesn’t feel like one. Try a ten-minute reset instead: headphones on, screen off or turned away, and nothing else to do until the set ends.

Calm while you work

• Instrumental only. Lyrics compete with reading and writing.
• Low volume. It should sit under your thoughts, not on top of them.
• Steady tracks. Sudden changes pull your attention. The Before the big thing set is built from the steadiest tracks.
• Same music, same job. Using the same playlist for the same kind of task can help you settle in faster.

Before something stressful

Before an exam, a presentation or a hard conversation, play something steady for ten to twenty minutes, and finish five minutes before you need to start, so you go in from quiet rather than from the middle of a track.

After work

A short set at the end of the day draws a line between work and home. The After a long day knot is warm and soft on purpose.

When to take them off

Headphones all day can become one more thing. Give your ears quiet time too, and if work stress is constant, talk to someone about it.

Questions

Is it OK to listen to music while studying?

For many people, calm instrumental music at a low volume is fine or even helpful. Music with lyrics tends to get in the way of reading and writing.

How long should a music break be?

Even five to ten minutes helps a break feel like a break, especially if you’re not looking at a screen at the same time.