Seven days, two soundtracks—only one gave me sharper focus and better writing flow.
You know those mornings in a coffee shop when your playlist seems to type the words for you? I’ve done that for years. But I never actually measured if it improved my writing speed or just made me feel more productive.
So, I ran a personal typing speed test. Half the week with my go-to playlist, half in total silence. My goal wasn’t just to see which option would boost productivity—I wanted to find out which improved mental clarity, creative flow, and long-term writing stamina.
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Day 1 – The Rules of My Writing Test
This was more than a writing challenge—it was a structured workspace optimization experiment.
I set up my desk in my Brooklyn apartment, coffee mug to my left, ergonomic chair adjusted just right. For three and a half days, I wrote with my playlist—mostly instrumental jazz and lo-fi beats. For the next three and a half days, I wrote in total silence, broken only by the hum of my laptop and faint open office noise drifting in from the street.
Each session lasted exactly one hour. I tracked writing speed, measured WPM to see if I could increase typing accuracy, and noted my mental clarity after each session. I also paid attention to whether I reached a deep work state or felt mentally scattered.
By lunch, I spotted my first hint: music days produced more words but also more mid-sentence edits. Speed alone wasn’t telling the full story.
Music On – The Playlist Phase
With music, my typing speed surged—but my edits told a different story.
The first half of the week felt like riding a wave. My WPM was up by 7%, and music made it easy to maintain momentum—even in a busy coffee shop. The rhythm kept my fingers moving, but sometimes it pulled my thoughts forward before they were fully formed.
It was perfect for brainstorming, outlining, and clearing a writing backlog. But for precise editing or building complex arguments, the extra speed came with a cost.
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Music Off – The Silence Phase
Silence didn’t feel empty—it was full of steady focus.
When I turned off the playlist on day four, the stillness felt strange at first. But within fifteen minutes, I noticed smoother sentence flow, fewer edits, and longer stretches of uninterrupted creative flow. My WPM was slightly lower, but the quality of my work—and my ability to sustain attention—was higher.
Even small background sounds, like the clicking of my mechanical keyboard, became a natural part of my focus rhythm. It wasn’t as fast, but it felt more intentional—and more sustainable.
Unexpected Patterns in Speed & Focus
The raw numbers looked impressive—but the editing time told a different story.
By the end of my typing speed test, music days averaged 7% faster. But when I factored in revisions, the silent days pulled ahead in overall efficiency.
Music-fueled sessions needed almost 40% more editing time. Silent sessions, while slightly slower, delivered cleaner drafts that required less post-work—leaving more time for deep work and other creative projects.
There was also a physical shift. On music days, I leaned in, shoulders tense, almost like racing against the beat. On silent days, I naturally sat back, breathing deeper, as if working in a quiet suburban library or an early-morning coffee shop before the rush.
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Lessons for Writers & Creators
Writing speed means little if you sacrifice clarity and accuracy.
This experiment proved that sound choice should match the task. For brainstorming or rapid drafting, music can keep your pace high and energy up.
But for precision tasks—like tightening prose, increasing typing accuracy, or structuring complex arguments—silence gives you the mental clarity needed for higher-quality output.
Freelance writers and solo creators can use this to design a hybrid workspace optimization strategy. Music for momentum, silence for mastery.
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Who Should Try This
If your work blends creativity with accuracy, this test is for you.
Writers, coders, marketers, and designers—anyone whose work requires bursts of creative flow followed by detailed refinement—can benefit from tracking their own sound environment.
Try three sessions with music and three without. Measure writing speed, note your focus level, and track how long revisions take. You may find, as I did, that the right background sound at the right time can increase productivity more than any app or gadget.
Final Thoughts
This 7-day test reshaped how I think about writing speed and focus.
Music days brought momentum and energy—great for fast drafting and breaking through mental resistance. Silent days delivered cleaner drafts, deeper focus, and a sense of mental clarity that lasted long after I closed my laptop.
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Quick Recap for Your Own Experiment
- Run a 7-day typing speed test—half with music, half in silence
- Track more than WPM—note focus level, mood, and revision time
- Use music for momentum, silence for precision
- Watch for physical cues—posture, breathing, and energy dips
- Apply your findings to your workspace optimization strategy
Remember, the goal isn’t just faster writing—it’s sustainable focus and better results. The right environment will help you increase typing accuracy while keeping your creative flow alive.
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Your Turn
Which side wins for you—music or silence? Start your own test this week and share your results—you might inspire another writer’s best draft.
If you have a friend dealing with open office noise or struggling to stay focused during coffee shop writing sessions, send them this challenge. Sometimes the smallest change in your writing environment can lead to the biggest improvement in your output.
Hashtags: #DigitalWellness #WritingSpeed #TypingSpeedTest #DeepWork #CreativeFlow #ProductivityTools #WritersLife #WorkspaceSetup #IncreaseProductivity
Sources: Harvard Business Review – The Impact of Noise on Creative Work; Freelancers Union – Productivity Rituals for Solo Creators
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