back to Learn
We know music is more than just background noise – it’s a powerful, proven mood booster. It activates the parts of the brain linked to emotions, memory, and mood, helping to reduce stress and calm your mind. Whether you’re looking to lift your energy or find a moment of peace, hit play, and in under three minutes, you’ll start to see the difference.
Our ‘Music for Mental Fitness’ series is thoughtfully curated by members of our community, featuring soundtracks that have helped them navigate their own ups and downs. Each playlist is designed with specific emotional experiences in mind, offering a soundtrack that aims to uplift, soothe, and build your mental fitness, one track at a time.
Deep Focus: Your soundtrack for clarity and concentration
We often think of focus as a productivity tool: helping us do more and get more done. And while that can be true, cultivating focus is also about being more present and engaged with ourselves, which plays a key role in mental fitness. When we sharpen our focus, we strengthen our ability to check in with how we’re feeling, build awareness, and make choices that support our wellbeing.
The right sounds can help us settle into that focused state. Our Deep Focus playlist is a collection of calming, instrumental tracks designed to support deep concentration, whether you’re studying, working, tackling a demanding task, or simply creating space to tune in and reflect.
Here are three standout tracks from Deep Focus:
Oceans Apart - Ben Crossland
This track feels like a deep breath. It’s gentle piano helps clear your mind and makes it easier to focus.
Glisten by the Wind - Nick Leng
Soft and flowing, this song feels like a reset button – helping you stay present and in the zone.
Intervallo I - Ennio Morricone
The steady rhythm of this piece keeps you moving forward, making it great for staying focused and getting things done.
Listen to the “Deep Focus” playlist on Spotify.
The science behind the sounds
Music can influence mood and emotions, enhance the way our brain works, and promote a sense of connection with others and ourselves. Studies have shown that music can:
- Encourage emotional processing: Music often acts as a mirror for our emotions, giving us a safe space to process and express feelings that might otherwise feel overwhelming.1
- Reduce stress and anxiety: Listening to calming music has been found to lower cortisol levels, helping to alleviate stress and promote relaxation2.
- Boost motivation: Upbeat tracks can enhance physical performance and mental drive during workouts or challenging tasks, helping you to stay focused and energised3.
1 Hallam, S. (2010). The power of music: Its impact on the intellectual, social and personal development of children and young people. International Journal of Music Education, 28(3), 269-289. https://doi.org/10.1177/0255761410370658
2 Koelsch, S. (2014). Brain correlates of music-evoked emotions. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 15(3), 170-180. https://doi.org/10/1038/nrn3666
3 Juslin, P. N., & Sloboada, J. A. (Eds.). (2010). Handbook of Music and Emotion: Theory, Research, Applications. Oxford University Press.
