Do you often lose focus while trying to complete a monotonous task? Is the deadline for this task due the next day? In five hours? In thirty minutes? This sort of predicament occurs often in the corporate world, and many workers rely upon the sound of music to help them regain focus.

Some people find music to be distracting, and listening to music while working in an office might portray you as being disinterested with interacting with your coworkers or, at worst, rude. So, how can something as supposedly distracting as music improve your work productivity?

First, consider a study that was conducted at the University of Windsor in Canada. The study tested the effect of music on software developers. Dave Johnson summarizes the findings by noting that the people produced the poorest quality of work and took the longest time to complete the work when they didn’t listen to any music at all. When exposed to background music, there was increased curiosity amongst the software workers. Increased curiosity is a sign of enhanced perception and a better mood, components that are necessary to work efficiently.

According to an article published by the New York Times, Dr. Amid Sood, a physician of integrative medicine with the Mayo Clinic, says that the euphonious sounds help foster the release of a bodily chemical known as dopamine in the area of the brain that responds to rewards. This is similar to receiving a great gift, eating a delicious dessert, looking at something pleasant, or smelling a wonderful aroma. As one listens to music, the release of this chemical relieves tension and frustration when completing the assignment, allowing for more relaxation and focus that leads to greater efficiency and productivity.

Dr. Sood notes that the mind tends to wander, “and we know that a wandering mind is unhappy. Most of that time, we are focusing on the imperfections of life.” The presence of background music can keep our mind in the present moment.

So then, what is the type of music that will produce the most productivity, and how long should one listen to it? Can J. Cole help you get your project done?

Well, possibly. Dr. Sood says that music without lyrics usually works best (jazz, classical, or instrumentals of your favorite songs) and you only need to listen to it for fifteen to thirty minutes to regain your sense of concentration. So, if your favorite songs happen to be J. Cole songs, then some instrumentals of his songs might prove to be helpful to your productivity. Just try to not to focus on reciting the lyrics in your mind too much.

Some companies have policies concerning music, so always check with your manager to see if you are permitted to do so. Of course, when listening to music, always be respectful to your boss, coworkers, and clients. Use your headphones so that you don’t distract everyone else, and turn the music off when dealing with a client or your boss.