How to be more productive when writing – great music and apps!
I listen to music and use a few apps that really help when writing, and consequently, I thought this might be something helpful for others.
I write for a living. It is literally the sole source of my income. I am also pretty lazy, which is a hindrance when you’re your own boss and find yourself a slightly disappointing employee.
As a lazy writer, I have a few tricks to help me get going. These are music, and a couple of apps that reinforce productivity.
Music to listen to while writing
There is considerable debate online about what, if anything, to listen to while writing. Mind you, there is considerable debate online about bloody everything on the internet. People have their survival needs met and are bored. But some universal traits emerge from the squalid, angry forums, and I largely agree. This is something I have researched more than once, so I thought it might help others.
Most people like music when writing, and I am one of them. Generally, for most, music without lyrics or words is better, as it is less distracting. I have found some great tunes that work for me, which I thought I would share.
Different genres
Firstly, try different genres. Some people like light jazz, while others swear by classical. A single study published in Nature espoused listening to Mozart, and for a while, the ‘Mozart effect’ became popular. Consequent studies have shown it is good, but so are other types of music. More on that in a sec.
Non-music options
You can also try white or pink noise. These drown out other noises, which is handy if you are working in a noisy place, and have the added bonus that they help promote learning in adults for some reason.
I have also found some nature or atmospheric sounds can help. I have a white noise app called Portal that I sometimes use, but there are tons out there that generate noise or background effects, like a stream or a forest. Heavy storms and distant traffic really work for me, I don’t know why.
Ambience tracks can be great as well. There are a load of them on YouTube. Like the above, I use these more often when writing outside. Cosy coffee shops with a crackling fire and distant jazz are pleasant but not distracting, for example.
On YouTube, there are a lot of great binaural and ambient tracks. This three-hour one is great and has had 39 million listens, so I’m not alone in liking it.
What I listen to
I tend to listen to lo-fi or ambient music. For a while, I got really into Nordic dark folk rock. It has lyrics, but happily, I don’t speak any Scandinavian languages. It’s very much an acquired taste though.
I have a spotify playlist for writing, but it is pretty disjointed with a lot of things on there that depend on my mood. However, there are several albums I keep returning to:
Low Symphony (from the music of David Bowie and Brian Eno) by Philip Glass. Ambient tunes from music legends.
Hidden World by John Serrie. Another ambient classic.
The music from the game Deus Ex by Michael McCann. Futuristic sounds that are perfect for writing sci-fi and cyberpunk. Game soundtracks are generally really good options as they are designed to motivate without being too distracting.
The soundtrack to Tron Legacy by Daft Punk is a superb piece of work that helps with writing and focusing. I’m really looking forward to the third Tron film purely because Trent Reznor will compose the soundtrack.
Brandon Sanderson writes 4000 words a day, and his Spotify playlists are perfect for writing. Just log in and search for mistborn1. He has three playlists that are well worth listening to.
And finally, there is Lofi Girl on YouTube. Coincidentally, that is what I am listening to right now. It is a live channel that plays constant lofi tunes 24/7. This is a great option if you have a load of work and don’t want to have to worry about what music you want to hear.
I just use three apps to keep me focused
There is no magic app that will increase work levels and put you in a flow state. At least, not one I have found. Let me know if you have one! I use three apps, and they basically get me to focus on what I am doing and stop me going down internet rabbit holes.
1/ ATracker – This lets me track everything I do. Whenever I get to the end of a day and am baffled at where all the hours went, this lets me know what I did. It also helps me learn how long certain tasks take. This is mostly for checking my workflow, but it does help me to stop wasting my time doing unimportant stuff while I am supposed to be working.
2/ Flow – This is a simple Pomodoro timer. I love the Pomodoro technique – it is absolutely crucial for someone who is easily distracted, bored, and lazy. I tried Forest and Session and a few others, but Flow works best for me as it is simple and basic and lets you adjust timings. I do 30-minute bursts with 10-minute breaks. Whatever works for you.
3/ Structured – I love this app. It allows you to time-block your day and it then shows you live what you should be doing. I do a ‘just one thing’ each day, and this lets you plan it out. I tried Google Calendar and a few others, but they keep popping up and being generally fiddly. Structured works great.
That it! I hope you find some of these helpful. Even if you have a good system going, it is always worth seeing what others do.
Have a superb and productive day!
