Lofi for studying
Lofi study music with a built-in focus timer
Set a focus block, press play on calm, instrumental lofi from Purrple Cat, and get to work. Then pick an album that fits your task.
Focus timer
Focus
25:00
Plays Purrple Cat's YouTube uploads (privacy-enhanced mode). Nothing loads until you press play. Start the timer, then the music.
How to run a study session
- Pick one taskWrite it down: "read chapter 4" or "finish 10 problems".
- Choose a block25 minutes with 5-minute breaks is the classic. 50/10 suits deep work.
- Start the musicPick an album for your task below and keep the volume low.
- Break, then repeatStand up when the chime rings. After four blocks, take a longer break.
Study playlists by task
Every album here is instrumental Purrple Cat lofi. Times are the full-album YouTube videos, so one album is about one focus block.
Reading & revision
Even, mellow albums with no vocals to compete with the words on the page.
- Mellow Skies27:47
Relax in a field of fireflies dancing underneath mellow skies.
- Tranquil Trails28:38
A cool breeze guides you to serenity under the canopy.
- A Good Book
Tracks like Bookworm and Coffee Jelly. Free download.
- Indigo Dreams
Tracks like Cloud Watching and Saturday Morning. Free download.
Writing & essays
Warm, unhurried sets that keep you company while you draft and edit.
- Signs of Life25:25
A city forgotten, but not lost. About one 25-minute focus block.
- House in the Woods29:55
You hear a whisper in the rain, a mysterious house calls your name.
- Just Relax
Tracks like Foggy Window and Quiet Night. Free download.
Coding & problem sets
Spacious, steady albums for long stretches of logic, math and code.
- Above the Clouds31:30
It's peaceful up here above the clouds.
- Multiverse 236:02
Which universe would you choose?
- Now or Never
Opens with Squeaky Computer Chair. Free download.
- Brain Fog
Tracks like Entering the Dream World and Questioning the Universe.
Exam cram & late nights
Quiet, after-dark albums for the night before the test.
- Night Train31:31
Ride the rails through starlit landscapes, where dreams and reality intertwine.
- City Nights29:48
A quiet night of solitude under a crescent moon.
- City Nights 232:06
Follow the neon glow. Includes Rainy Streets.
- Up All Night
The 2018 debut album, made for exactly this.
Breaks & long sessions
Brighter or longer albums for breaks, chores between blocks, or a full 90-minute stretch.
- Happy Place36:54
Follow the rainbow through bubbles of bliss to your personal paradise.
- Eye of the Storm41:48
Find your center in the eye of the storm.
- Ice Palace32:05
Tracks like Snow Pillow and Peppermint Mocha.
- Oasis31:22
A sunny reset between study blocks.
Study tips that work with music
- Decide the task before you press play.Write one line, like "finish problem set 3" or "outline the essay". A vague goal makes it easy to drift.
- Keep the volume low.Just loud enough to cover background noise. If you notice the music, turn it down.
- Use albums, not shuffle.A full album keeps one mood for about half an hour, so there are no jarring jumps between styles.
- Silence your phone, or move it.Put it face down or in another room. Queue your album first so you don't need to pick songs mid-session.
- Take real breaks.Stand up, stretch, get water. Looking at a feed isn't much of a break from a screen.
- Switch the music off when it stops helping.Brand-new, very hard material and timed practice tests can go better in silence.
Curious what research says about music and concentration? Read does lofi help you focus?
Study guides
- The best lofi for studyingWhat to look for in study music, matched to reading, writing, coding and exam cram.
- The Pomodoro Technique with musicRun 25-minute focus blocks with albums as your soundtrack and breaks that actually reset you.
- Does lofi help you focus?What the research on background music, lyrics and breaks actually says.
Take it with you
Save Purrple Cat on your music app for study sessions anywhere. Buying albums on Bandcamp is the best way to support new music.
More from Purrple Cat
FAQ
Is lofi good for studying?
For many people, yes, especially instrumental lofi at low volume. Research on background music is mixed: music with lyrics tends to hurt reading comprehension, while instrumental music often doesn't. See our guide, Does lofi help you focus?, for the studies.
How does the focus timer work?
Pick a preset, like 25 minutes of focus and a 5-minute break, and press Start. The timer alternates focus and break blocks and gives you a longer break after every fourth focus block. It runs entirely in your browser and stores nothing.
Will the timer play a sound?
Yes, a short soft chime when each block ends, unless you switch it off. Keep the tab open so it can ring.
What should I listen to while studying?
Instrumental albums with a steady mood. Use the playlists by task above: mellow albums for reading, warm ones for writing, spacious ones for coding, and quiet night albums for exam cram.
Who makes the music?
Purrple Cat, a solo lofi project that began in October 2018 with the debut album Up All Night. All the music, art and animation is made by Purrple Cat.
Can I use this music in my study-with-me videos or streams?
Purrple Cat Self Releases are free to use under CC BY 4.0 with credit. Releases on other labels may differ. See musicforyoutube.com for the credit line.
About the music
Purrple Cat: solo lofi project since 2018. 400M+ Spotify streams, 450+ songs, heard in Disney, League of Legends & Rocket League. Free music under CC BY 4.0.
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