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Listening to this weird music increases your concentration

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If you had told me last year that I would listen to a Mario Kart tune for hours while studying, I would have laughed in your face. And yet: here we are. With Coconut Mall (yup, that one song from Mario Kart) on repeat, an empty coffee cup next to me, and a surprisingly empty inbox. Because yes, this hyperactive music from Mario Kart really helps you concentrate better. Okay, okay, but how does it work? And what if you just get nervous from this song? I dove in.

Viral on TikTok: studying with Coconut Mall

If you follow TikTok a bit (and let’s be honest: who doesn’t?), you’ve probably seen them: students sitting behind their laptops, earbuds in, Coconut Mall on, typing as if their lives depend on it. It started as a joke – someone put the Coconut Mall track from Mario Kart Wii on repeat and said it helped them focus – but it has now become a real phenomenon. You can find hundreds of videos of people swearing by this music while cramming. Why? Because it works. Well, for many people at least… but more on that later.

The Mario song for ten hours long? Here you can find it: Coconut Mall (10 Hours) on Spotify.

The text continues below the TikTok

@maryy.reederr it’s magical music i swear #midterms #studying #coconutmall #wii ♬ Coconut Mall (From “Mario Kart Wii”) – Arcade Player

Why it works (and this is not just TikTok nonsense)

Okay: There’s a kind of psychological logic behind it - yup. Research shows that ‘upbeat’ game music – like that of Mario Kart – is designed to put you in a flow. It should stimulate you, but not distract you (no wonder you can easily get addicted to gaming: the type of background music plays a role too). And because Coconut Mall has no lyrics, your brain doesn’t get caught up in what is being sung.

The beat is fast, but not so fast that you start hyperventilating. It seems that your brain thinks faster because of this, without getting stressed. And that’s exactly the sweet spot when you’re working on a thesis, exam, or presentation for hours –mood.

For those for whom it does (and doesn’t) work

However, this music while studying/concentrating is not for everyone. If you thrive on rain sounds or the sound of chirping birds, then Coconut Mall is probably a complete nightmare for you and will only make your heart race (in a bad way). Your brain needs to be able to handle this kind of stimuli – some people work well in a busy café, while others prefer a quiet space (why actually? you can read about it here).

For people with ADHD, for example, the sound of ‘Coconut Mall’ works extremely well. Why? Because their brain is often looking for just enough stimuli. Too little = boredom. Too much = chaos. This tune is predictable (which provides calm) and has a fast beat (which works against boredom).

For when you hate Coconut Mall (or go crazy): this music works too

Are you already completely hyped after three minutes of Coconut Mall (understandable)? No worries. Fortunately, there are also other soundtracks that you can easily use to get through your to-do list. You can find a few here, but these are my favorites:

Note: that Coconut Mall loop will definitely end up in your Spotify Wrapped if you study a lot. So if you want to avoid that embarrassing moment at the Christmas party: alternate the song with one of these tracks.

5 tips to make studying easier

  • 25 minutes of work, 5 minutes of break / 50 minutes of work, 10 minutes of break.
  • Put your phone on airplane mode.
  • Use apps like Forest or Freedom to block distractions.
  • Make a mini to-do list per hour or per part of the day.
  • Small successes = dopamine = keep going. Treat yourself.
  • Make sure to have good snacks. Think: fruit, nuts, dark chocolate. No sugar crashes please.

Read more concentration tips here.

Let’s summarize, what is true / not true?

Where: It helps many people to study – especially if you have ADHD.
That fast, cheerful beat gives just enough stimulus to help your brain focus. For people with ADHD, it works as a kind of mental on-switch.

Not true: It works for everyone.
Nope. If you’re more of a zen type who starts stressing with every beat, then Coconut Mall is your personal horror track.

Where: This is just a track directly taken from the game.
No smart study psychologist behind it, just Nintendo magic from Mario Kart Wii.

Not true: It is specially made for studying.
Uh, no. It was meant to race you against a banana peel, not to get you through your finals.

Where: It also works great for cleaning, gaming, or just checking off a to-do list.
Your concentration is there. Whether you're studying or doing something else, believe me, you'll have it done in no time.