Does Listening To Music While Writing Help Or Distract?

Today, most people listen to music when they write.

Scientific evidence and expert advice tend to recommend against it. But because it’s accepted that that’s what people do nowadays, many instructors don’t bother trying to dissuade.

That’s a mistake.

We often become comfortable with giving in to what we like. Other times, we want so badly to be accepted and liked that we back down from even the slightest constructive criticism.

Listening to any kind of music while studying or writing can waste time and dull creativity. It’s a form of multitasking. Our brains are not hardwired to multitask. We can…and do. But it doesn’t mean it’s healthy or as productive as it would be if we arranged our lives so that we don’t have to.

Some monotonous, busywork-like aspects of writing require so little neurological exertion that listening to music speeds us up. Trevor Mahoney finds that EDM helps him type faster and more efficiently.

Any form of research, memorization, or brainstorming, however, can be slowed by musical distraction.

Writing coach Amy Isaman researched the effects of music on concentration and productivity. Nearly every study she found shows that reading comprehension decreases when we listen to…