Whether you work at home or in an office, music for work will help you to be more relaxed and have a better disposition to carry out daily work tasks. On many occasions, when the stress level in the office rises or when the pending tasks pile up on your desk, the best option may be to put on music , either on the radio, cell phone or computer .
Some studies have shown that people who listen to music while doing repetitive tasks generally do so faster and with fewer errors . This occurs because listening to your favorite music causes the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which improve concentration and make you feel joyful and calm. This is especially relevant when the task you are carrying out is complex . For example, surgeons often listen to music in the operating room as it helps them release stress and focus. In addition, music also improves the way you interact with your colleagues; if you are happy and feel good you are more respectful, patient and kind.
If you decide to listen to music while working , the best thing you can do is not play new music for yourself. Listening to melodies and songs that you have not heard before will make you think about the novelty and not the task you are doing, which would cause you to become distracted. Music can make a big difference in your work environment. Feel free to turn up the volume if the noise around you bothers you, the best thing you can do is use headphones to isolate ambient sound if you are in a place with more people.
Improve your productivity with music
A study conducted by TotalJobs on over 4,500 people found that many people feel that their productivity increases when listening to music . This is partly because melodies and sounds can be a mental stimulant and when people feel stimulated by the work they do, their performance can increase.
The survey by TotalJobs also found that 79% of workers increase their personal productivity while listening to music. The same publication also showed that of employees who are allowed to listen to music at work, 59% of them say that it is beneficial to their mental and intellectual well-being . Employees who are less stressed and generally happier within their work environments are more likely to show initiative and productivity .
Increases imagination
Another benefit that music can have on workers is that it fuels their imagination . Considering that music has been shown to improve cognition, learning, and memory in other studies, it’s no surprise that it has an impact on creative thinking .
In one experiment, participants performed creativity exercises that measured thinking while being exposed to either silence or classical music that evoked four distinct emotional states: happiness, calm, sadness, or anxiety. After contrasting the participants’ performance in the five scenarios, the researchers found that those who had listened to upbeat music scored higher on divergent thinking than those who had performed in silence. In other words, they came up with more complete, creative, and innovative ideas .
Helps improve memory
In addition to improving concentration, a good tune increases performance on cognitive tasks . In older adults, listening to upbeat music improves information processing speed .
On the other hand, the brain benefits from both fast-paced and slow-paced music to retain more data and information. However, the cognitive performance benefits may be different depending on how much we like the music . At Lund University, researchers found that people who listened to their favorite music had better concentration and performance than those who listened to other music.
What music can I listen to at work?
Having already mentioned some of the benefits of music in the workplace , the next step is to choose the most appropriate genre for each task, since, just as it increases productivity and reduces stress , music can also cause the opposite effect if not chosen correctly. Beyond tastes, research has shown that there is appropriate music for each type of work.
Although many studies point to classical music as the best for working, one should not generalize. The type of music must be adapted to each task, because each genre activates different regions of the brain . For mechanical and more monotonous tasks, dance, electronic, rock or pop music is appropriate. For jobs that involve greater mental intensity and attention to detail, classical music, jazz or melodic songs without lyrics are recommended. On other occasions, a varied playlist without sudden changes that distract attention can be a great help for working, since each song will keep a different part of the brain stimulated .