Science says these Christmas songs tank productivity at work

It’s the first week of December. If you don’t already have the Christmas tunes blasting in the office, what are you waiting for?

The debate over listening to music while at work, however, often divides offices. Some love to crank up the merry melodies while toiling away, and find silence to be deafening. Others can only listen to mood music or instrumental playlists like “coffeeshop jazz in the background” or “LoFi Girl,” featuring low-fidelity, calming beats. And still others insist on complete silence. 

As the countdown to the holidays begins, Google searches for “Christmas playlist 2025” have spiked this past week. But could listening to Mariah Carey or Michael Bublé on loop be sabotaging office productivity? 

A study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience found that pleasurable music triggers dopamine release, creating a natural high that can boost energy for mundane tasks. But while listening to music can increase focus and productivity, the beats per minute (BPM) matter. Research has shown that music with a tempo of 50 to 80 beats per minute is optimal for focus and productivity. When background music at a workplace is out of sync with what workers need to get on with their jobs, it can affect their energy and mood—and even performance.

So what does this mean for your favorite festive tunes? TopResume analyzed Spotify’s most popular Christmas songs and ranked them by BPM to reveal the tracks most likely to derail office concentration in the final weeks of 2025.

Bad news for Ariana Grande stans. Grande’s “Last Christmas” takes the top spot as the most distracting Christmas song, with 206 BPM. This comes in at over triple the recommended BPM of 60 to 80 for maintaining focus during tasks. 

Employees may also find Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters’ “Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)” and Shakin’ Stevens’ “Merry Christmas Everyone” somewhat distracting, with 203 BPM. 

Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (202 BPM) and another Ariana Grande holiday classic, “Santa Tell Me” (192 BPM), are also best left for lunch break listening. 

On the other hand, Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” emerged as the most productivity-friendly holiday track, clocking in at just 67 BPM, within the optimal tempo range for maintaining concentration.

Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)” and Whitney Houston’s “Do You Hear What I Hear?” tied at 73 BPM. The Vince Guaraldi Trio’s beloved “Christmas Time Is Here” comes in at 75 BPM. Festive favorite Ella Fitzgerald claims two spots with “Frosty the Snowman” and “Sleigh Ride,” both at 77 BPM.

“The end of the year is an especially demanding time for many professionals. Between wrapping up projects, juggling tighter deadlines, managing holiday commitments at home, and navigating the colder weather and shorter days, it’s easy for stress levels to creep up,” says Amanda Augustine, a certified professional career coach and the resident career expert for TopResume. “That’s why it’s so important to create a festive atmosphere at work that doesn’t sacrifice anyone’s focus.”

That’s not an excuse to be a Grinch and insist on silence. (After all, it’s Christmastime, and noise-canceling headphones exist for a reason.) Simply swap out Ariana Grande for Ella Fitzgerald in shared spaces, and everyone’s happy. Maybe.

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