When you decide to become a freelance writer, you’re committing yourself to long hours at the keyboard. It takes time to get a piece of content or copy just right, and some days will be easier than others.
One of the things that really helps me when I’m having an off day (read: feeling unmotivated or just kind of scatterbrained) is music. But, it can’t have words. My brain loves to sing along which is pretty distracting. So, where can you find focus music and background sounds without words? Here are 6 of my current faves!
6 focus music playlists for writers
From jazz to hip-hop to house, there are options for different moods and tastes.
1. Morning Coffee Jazz & Bossa Nova – Relaxing Chill Out Music
Location: YouTube
Length: 4 hours and 2 minutes
Words: No, just instrumental
This jazz playlist is uplifting and relaxing. I love making my morning coffee, turning this on, and getting to work. Oddly enough, it seems to make my hyper puppy chill out, too lol. Some of the focus playlists are slower-pace and make me sleepy—not this one.
2. Coffee Shop Ambience | Coffee Shop Background Noise | Ambient views
Location: YouTube
Length: 2 hours and 4 minutes
Words: Background noise
Sometimes silence can be loud, know what I mean? It can also make you feel kind of stagnant. This playlist provides an hour’s worth of coffee shop background noise. I don’t know why, exactly, but I like it. It makes me feel like I’m at a busy cafe, even when I’m at my kitchen table enjoying my home brew. Not music per se, but it helps me focus and keep the ball moving.
3. Hip Hop Instrumental Beats
Location: YouTube
Length: 11 hours
Words: No (there are a few spots with some words)
Want some upbeat, hip-hop vibes? This mix will keep them coming for 11 hours. It’s mostly instrumental but does have a few parts with words that I fast-forward through. It offers a nice variety and will have you bobbing your head every now and then.
4. Productivity Music: Binaural Beats Focus Music, Concentration Music for Productivity
Location: YouTube
Length: 3 hours and 3 minutes
Words: No
Have you heard of binaural beats? In short, they involve playing two tones of slightly different frequencies—one in each ear—through headphones. The result is that most people just hear one frequency that fluctuates in loudness or frequency, a beat. These beats have been found to impact cognitive function and mood. You can give them a try with this binaural beat music that’s supposed to help with productivity.
5. Chill Back by Lofi Beats
Location: Spotify
Length: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Words: No
Want a mix that’s kind of chill and groovy, but not sleepy? This Chill Back playlist is composed of 40 upbeat tracks. There’s a good variety and it always makes the workday more enjoyable (in my opinion).
6. Upbeat Study Music – Deep Focus for Complex Tasks
Location: YouTube
Length: 3 hours
Words: No
This one is really popular and I can see why. It’s like house music—upbeat, easy to listen to, and not distracting.
What’s your favorite focus music playlist?
Hopefully, you’ve found some focus music or sounds here that will help those tough writing days go more smoothly. Do you have one to add to the list? Drop it in the comments! Also, I’m curious—does it bother you to listen to music with words while you’re writing?