Flow theory

Iso-Principle

To get a little scientific, we’re going to introduce the Iso-Principle. Originating in 1948, it is a method used by music therapists that can be replicated on a smaller scale at home.

It is the technique of altering a mood state using music.

So, let’s say you are feeling angry or tense, but you know you need to get into the ‘zone.’

Using the Iso principle, you slowly change the music style you’re listening to to transition into the mood you need. Listen to music that matches how you’re feeling now - heavier, bassy, maybe even with aggressive lyrics. Slowly, you switch the tempo, lyrics, and genre using transitional music - genres that fit in between.

Use this technique to calm yourself or get hyped up for the day. Over time, your brain will be trained to respond when it hears this playlist, making it faster and more effective.

8 Types of Sounds

You don’t want or need to be productive all the time, but there are likely some periods in the week when you need a little more pep in your step.

For years, research has been done into how different types of music impact our concentration. Classical Music is often recommended as the way to go. But now we have lo-fi, minimalist looped beats, brown noise, white noise, pink noise… the list is endless.

Eight types of music come science-backed as the best to increase your productivity:

1. Natural sounds—replicating the calm and inspiring feeling that we get when we are in nature. Natural sounds like rain, the ocean, and wind in the trees. Nature sounds increase productivity by giving you a peaceful and calm atmosphere.

2. Lo-fi—a modern pick that has seen exceptional uptake in the last three years. A steady beat, usually looped, soft tones, and rarely featuring vocals beyond samples.

3. Classical music—has received the most research on its impact on productivity and concentration. Findings showed that classical music works brilliantly for relaxation and increases memory recall.

4. Video game music—an area in which video games excel is having music that puts the player in the moment. It might be high-energy or very calm; it is immersive and rarely has vocals. Often melodic, it is designed to put players in a particular emotion.

5.  Film scores—composers who work on film scores have specific goals and emotions in mind, and typically, we only hear a small section of the full tracks. A film score can be up to 120 minutes in length. The music in a powerful scene is one of the reasons we experience frisson.

6. Instrumentals—are adjacent to video game music in their form, but instruments can be from any genre. It is the songs you know and love without the lyrical content. Covers played by piano and violins are great options.

7. Ambient noise—for those who don’t want silence but also don’t want music. Ambient noise is the in-between. Coffee shop noises, the dull hums of libraries, cats purring… very ‘human’ sounds. We don’t tend to process them because they are lyricless and familiar, so they are not distracting but offer ‘company.’

8. White noise—some people swear by this one. It works because it has flat spectral density, easily blocks out external sounds and noise, and has no variations.

You might notice something distinct that all of these have in common: a lack of real vocals—in many cases, none at all. Why? We tune into lyrics and sing along; our brains can’t ignore them and struggle to focus. Take them away, and you can concentrate deeper on what you are doing. Does it work for everyone? No, because everyone is different - but try it.

Personality

It's not a hack exactly, but if you know who you are - what your personality leans to, you’ll be able to use music better.

Repeat

Train your mind to switch on by using the same playlist every time. You don’t need to concentrate on the sounds or the lyrics, but you know it is there. You most likely do this without noticing, like pressing play on a driving playlist or for a workout session.

Or, perhaps you have been enjoying those 4-hour lo-fi contextual (study, work, relaxation) playlists on YouTube. Training your brain to relax when you see or hear that familiar logo or beat.

Create a playlist or multiple playlists that incorporate a range of tempos and either take you from anxious to calm or calm to hyped-up, depending on the type of work day you intend to have. By doing the same thing and making it a routine, your brain will react to the triggers. In this case, the opening song on the playlist and the actions leading up to pressing play.

Playlists

We’d never leave you hanging; here are some playlists for you to try out: