How to Stay Productive When You’re Obsessed with Your Phone Using YouTube Music

"The reason you have a headache is because of your phone."

"Why won’t you be tired when you’re always pressing your phone?"

Most kids who grew up with Nigerian parents probably heard these statements. While there’s no scientific research backing such claims, it’s not entirely out of place to say that young people today are highly invested in the little box they hold. A study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that a significant number of children aged 5 to 11 have access to mobile devices, with more than one-third of parents with children under 12 claiming their child began interacting with a smartphone before the age of 5. This has a ripple effect, as research conducted by Frontier suggests that high smartphone usage significantly disrupts productivity and leads to a loss of concentration.

While playing music on your phone can be distracting for some, the objective of this article is to show you easy steps to turn your distraction tool into a weapon of productivity.

1. Incorporate Lo-Fi into Your Productivity Playlist

   Lo-fi, which is short for "low fidelity," refers to a music production style that incorporates slow, relaxed beats using soft instrumental elements or ambient background sounds that can be used while studying, working, or relaxing. Because of its simple structure, it minimizes distractions and helps listeners settle into a calming environment. A good place to start is with playlists like Focus Music for Work and Studying, Background Music for Better Concentration, or Study Music, which is perfect for studying, doing intense work, and brainstorming.

2. Let Your Shuffle Playlist

   No other app gets you like YouTube’s shuffle playlist. Found a mix you only heard on TikTok? YouTube Music has it. That radio edit you’ve only heard on an artist’s Instagram? YouTube Music has the full version. Playing a certain flow of music that’s helping you focus? YouTube Music understands that and will continue feeding you similar music after your current playlist ends.

3. Schedule Breaks Between Music Sessions

   Incorporate breaks into your work routine—this time without music. Give your brain a chance to rest and recharge. This is important to maintain focus and avoid fatigue. Your body might feel like it’s on overdrive, but this is not the time to scroll through TikTok or check your Instagram DMs. Put your phone away and give yourself a rest.

   
   

4. Reward Yourself with Music You Enjoy During Non-Work Times

   While Lo-Fi can be used as a tool for maintaining focus, it’s important to reward yourself with music you love now and then. Dance it out to Crazy in Love by Beyonce whenever you feel like you've hit a good milestone at work. Fun fact: If your playlist knows you well, it will shuffle at the right moment, helping you get up and dance!

   
   

   Working at such a pace makes you more driven, as you’re focused on finishing your tasks early so you can enjoy that sweet reward. Since YouTube Music lets you create personalized playlists, you can set this up as a reward for the productive hours, which you can use to celebrate your wins after completing tasks.

5. Play from the YouTube Music Audio-Only Option

   If you decide to play music directly from the YouTube website, you may be tempted to switch back to the phone's interface. While you may think it’s the same, free advice—it’s not. It could serve as another tool of distraction. Though the algorithm and shuffle playlists may understand your present needs, you might not and could end up playing something else that has no relation to what you're currently working on. A long playlist can prevent you from interacting with the app frequently, helping you stay focused on the task at hand. At this point, I’ll suggest you might want to consider investing in YouTube Premium. Aside from no ads, you can turn off your phone screen and set it aside, saving battery and enabling you to deeply focus on your work.

   
   

In conclusion

You can make YouTube work for you—not just for cooking tutorials or watching a day in the life of your favorite content creator, but in a way that encourages productivity. The ball, however, eventually falls in your court, and all you have to do is: Curate your work/study playlist Put the phone away This could be the first step toward improving your focus and efficiency.

Challenge yourself, and if you're looking for where to start, here's something small I conceptualized that gives you valuable insight into the variety of music you'll find on YouTube Music.

This article was written in with the help of a perfectly curated Youtube music playlist.