Often times we have innumerable interruptions or distractions competing for our attention while we work. And music can help put us back on a more productive track. When it comes to tasks that require more brainpower, finding that perfect playlist is not so easy. Luckily, we have science at our disposal to help. Read Inc. contributor Gregory Ciotti’s full article, The Best Music For Staying Productive At Work – Backed By Science. Below you’ll find a few key points from his article.
To better understand music and productivity, let’s look at the research.
- Music makes repetitive tasks more enjoyable. “Music’s effectiveness is dependent on how “immersive” a task is, referring to the creative demand of the work. When a task is clearly defined and repetitive in nature, research from Applied Ergonomics suggests music is consistently helpful, ” states Ciotti.
- In a noisy work space, music is an escape. Ciotti explains, “While the open-office debate rages on, one point has become clear: a noisy workplace can halt personal productivity in its tracks.”
- Ambient noise is the creative sweet spot. For those who do enjoy listening to music during creative sessions, an atmospheric presence seems to work best.
- Lyrics are often too distracting. For low-immersion or physical tasks, music with lyrics can offer huge benefits. But for intensive work, lyrics are especially destructive for focus suggests Ciotti.
Music for immersive tasks: what works?
- Classical Music
- Electronic Music
- Video Game Music
- No Music (Ambient Noise)
Still not convinced? Check out another great article: 21 Ways Music Makes You More Productive At Work
If you liked this article, you might also enjoy reading Go With the Flow: Help Your Engineers Get into Flow for Higher Productivity.