In today’s world, music is not only used as a form of entertainment but also as a tool to improve studying and productivity. That being said, students are diversifying their music choices, spanning from classical masterpieces to soothing jazz melodies. However, one genre is particularly capturing this generation’s attention and gaining traction among students: lofi.

Does lofi actually help you study? Grab your headphones while we tell you everything you need to know about lofi and how to incorporate it into your study sessions.

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Table of Contents

What is Lofi?

Lofi (short for low-fidelity) is music deliberately created with imperfections, such as VHS noises, vinyl crackles, glitches, and misplayed notes. It also includes short, repetitive loops with a slow to medium tempo, usually coupled with electronic hip-hop or jazz beats. In contrast, Hifi (short for high-fidelity) is music that is crafted and engineered to perfection, such as most mainstream songs on record charts.

So, what makes lofi so appealing? There’s no single explanation.

Some argue that it’s all about the authenticity and nostalgia that it brings, just like listening to music from an old radio — especially when compared to overproduced music nowadays.

Others say that it has the perfect tempo (between 60-90 bpm), fast enough to be engaging but not too slow to make you sleepy.

For most, it’s simply about the comfort and ease people get from listening to this type of music, relieving anxiety and reducing stress, especially when working.

Whatever the reason, lofi has become go-to background music for anyone wanting to boost their productivity, especially students. It’s become a cultural phenomenon in itself, creating an online community of talented lofi producers and eager listeners around the world.

Benefits of Listening to Lofi While Studying

Whether you’re preparing for an important exam or set to finish a 5000-word paper, lofi could be the solution you’re looking for. Here are some proven benefits you can get from listening to lofi while studying or working:

Improved Concentration

When looking for a lofi playlist on YouTube or Spotify, you’ll probably notice adds like “beats to study to” or “perfect music to help you study” in the titles, and for good reason.

A 2022 study has shown that lofi music improves our brain’s ability to focus and perform mental tasks, making it the perfect backdrop for your study sessions. If you’ve ever caught yourself procrastinating or trying to climb out of a slump, put on a lofi playlist and see how it can help you regain your focus.

Enhanced Memory Recall

Do you have a hard time memorizing important formulas for an exam? Lofi has been shown to help students increase recall and score higher in exams. However, it’s important to choose Lofi music with no lyrics to avoid distractions. Also, give the more upbeat and faster lofi tracks a break and choose those with a slower tempo to help you retain information better.

Anxiety and Stress Reduction

Studying can be daunting and overwhelming. Tons of exams and paperwork are flooding in, and you barely have time to relax. Thanks to lofi, just hitting the play button could help you feel calmer when things get tough. Research has shown that listening to this music can decrease our heart rate and promote positive emotions. Studying in a noisy environment and feeling stressed out? Use lofi to mask any disruptive sound in your study space and lift your mood!

Boosted Creativity

Lofi can make you feel more creative, especially if you’re working on a writing, art, or design project! You’ll feel more in the zone, and might even do your tasks better and faster. To maximize listening to lofi while doing creative work, pick tracks with a faster beat to get those creative juices flowing. Just make sure it isn’t too fast and stimulating, or else you’ll lose focus.

Consistency & Productivity

Perhaps the best benefit of listening lofi while studying is that it helps us establish a routine. Listening to the same type of music during each study session can serve as a cue for our brain that it’s time to focus. Doing so makes it easier to transition to a productive state, especially if you’ve been scrolling through your phone a few minutes before. Lofi can subconsciously help create effective study habits that stick.

How to Effectively Use Lofi While Studying

Now that you know the benefits of lofi for learning and productivity, let’s figure out how to effectively incorporate it into your study routine:

  • Optimize your study space: Before listening to lofi, make sure you’re in a favorable study environment — whether it be a secluded corner in the library, or sitting at your well-organized desk. It’s also a good idea to invest in quality, noise-canceling headphones or earbuds for the best possible listening experience, while blocking out distractions.
  • Set the right volume: Finding the perfect volume while listening is critical to maximizing its benefits — loud enough to keep you engaged but soft enough to avoid distracting your brain. Lofi is meant to be a hypnotic backdrop for your studying sessions, not something that will trigger you to move to the beat while learning.
  • Choose the right playlist: Finding your favorite playlists will take trial and error. There are tons of subgenres of lofi, like chillhop, jazzhop, and synthwave for you to explore and experiment with at your own pace!
  • Limit multitasking: Listening to lofi for studying isn’t worthwhile if you overload your brain with other distractions, like YouTube or scrolling through social media. Make sure to focus only on a single task and avoid potential distractions.
  • Set time limits: Don’t forget to take regular, short breaks while studying. Listening to lofi for prolonged periods can end up being more distracting than helpful.

Elevate your lofi study sessions with Flocus’ free Focus Mode or any other aesthetic study websites. Enjoy the convenience of a built-in Pomodoro timer with breaks and pre-loaded lofi playlists right on the dashboard.

Lofi Playlist Recommendations

New to the world of lofi? Here’s a rundown of some of the best playlists to choose from for your next study session!

YouTube Lofi Radio

Spotify Playlists

Apple Music Playlists

When properly incorporated into a routine, lofi can be a powerful tool to make studying effective and fun! Whether you need to get into your flow state quickly or want a quick break, lofi has you covered.

Do you listen to lofi while studying? Any lofi playlists or songs you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below!

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