Music is one of the few universal human activities. It has a unique effect on the human mind and body. Music can trigger intense memories, good and bad, right down to smells and tastes. It can alter your mood and help you form bonds with other people. It can even help you fall in love.
Listening to music can also help you boost your creativity. Not all music will do this, of course. The best music for making you more creative is upbeat, cheerful music that makes you feel good and gets your blood pumping. Music unique to you that makes you happy also works.
The reason music helps improve creativity is that it turns on your imagination. It allows your subconscious mind to start the process of random associations and making connections that result in good ideas. Your focus and attention span are also improved.
Remembering things becomes easier when listening to music and right after doing so. Both short and long-term memory get a boost. This boost covers events, facts, and memories.
Upbeat music improves your mood too. Being in a better mood improves everything, including your creativity.
The effects can last for several hours after you turn off the music, so if you cannot listen to it while you are working on a project, try listening to some music before you start or while you are on the way. Dancing or moving around during this “pre-work” listening session will increase the effects.
It is better to listen to it while working, but twenty to thirty minutes of music is all that you need to kickstart creativity. If you are looking for music to use for a playlist, remember that a catchy beat and good emotions are the way to go.
The best beats for creativity purposes are those in the 60-80 beats per minute (bpm) range. Do not limit yourself to this if you have some music that is personally meaningful and brings a smile to your face whenever you hear it. Add those songs in too.
If you are not musically inclined or do not want to go through all the trouble of putting together a custom playlist, you can find plenty of premade playlists on the internet designed to maximize creativity. Every music streaming service has at least one (usually several), and some also offer curated stations to increase your creativity.