A study by Spotify and Dr. Anneli Haake, a specialist in music at work, concludes that 60% of people listen to music at work. Other studies on the effect of music during labor have been carried out, one of the earliest of which dates from 1972 (Music – an aid to productivity by JG Fox and ED Embrey). Listening to music at work is beneficial, they say.
The effects of music
Be more motivated- Be more efficient
- Be happier
- Be more relaxed
- Reduce fatigue
- Be more creative
- Stimulate the brain
- Make your memory work
- Disregard surrounding noises
- Secreting dopamine, thanks to the pleasure provided by music, allowing you to stay focused , more energetic
- Open your mind (study by Teresa Lesiuk)
When is it possible to listen to music?
To be able to listen to music while working, the environment must allow it. Indeed, this is not really easy in the case of permanent oral communication with customers, for example. But it can just as well be listened to in a quiet partitioned office as in an open space , taking care not to disturb others (use headphones or speakers depending on each person’s needs). You just have to choose the right type of music, depending on the task at hand.
What are the conditions for listening to music at the workplace?
It is in all cases preferable that the volume is not too loud: indeed, the music must accompany and not dominate. Everyone reacts differently to different sounds. Areas of the brain are stimulated and vary according to the intensity of the sound, whether the song is known or not, whether there are lyrics, whether it is happy or melancholy …
To re-motivate, keep morale up, rhythmic, energetic music can be listened to for a short time (so that it does not have a negative effect on concentration). Music that brings back memories sometimes generates emotions that can upset and is therefore not recommended.
In order not to be distracted, or to improve your creativity, it is better to opt for instrumental music, or a song whose lyrics are unfamiliar. Otherwise, during a drafting work for example, the attention could be focused more on the music, than on the text to be written. Also favor pieces of music that you know and appreciate, to be more productive, but also to be more relaxed.