We all know that music can help us feel good, but did you know it’s also a powerful productivity-boosting tool? Studies have consistently shown that listening to music as we work can help us get more done – and feel happier at the same time!
How does music achieve these things? Here are the ten ways that listening to music can have you firing on all cylinders at work!
Promotes the ‘Alpha State’
Tunes with beats in the range of fifty to eighty a minute could help our brains slip into the elusive ‘alpha state.’ This is the state in which brainwave activity slows down, and our minds are subsequently more able to engage in creative thinking and be led by intuition, meaning we may experience a general clarity of thought.
When your brain is in the alpha state, you’re much more likely to experience a lightbulb moment, having a sudden, blindingly clear vision of an innovative new solution to a problem, for example.
Boosts Mood
Music can powerfully affect our emotions; if we feel happy and motivated, we’re much more likely to be productive. While some power rock tuneage may work for some, however, others could find music with lyrics distracting, thereby undermining the productivity-boosting potential.
Instrumental music, background music for videos with a calming soundtrack, or music featuring natural sounds such as rain or waves crashing on a beach are likely to be soothing, able to lift the mood, promote focus, and, as a result, boost productivity.
Increases Concentration
Some people find that, rather than being a distraction, upbeat, happy music can increase their concentration, especially if it’s listened to when performing a repetitive or dull task. A study conducted by the group, Psychology of Music also found that software developers both worked more efficiently and learned new tasks quicker when listening to music.
Eases Anxiety
Work can often become overwhelming, with emails constantly pinging in and our to-do list growing by the second. Stress and anxiety can have a major impact on our productivity, as well as how we cope with our day-to-day lives.
As a mood enhancer, listening to music while working can help ease any feelings of anxiety, allowing us to get on with our tasks without the sort of mental fog that comes with stress.
Amps up the Energy
A great pop song or a thumping rock anthem can be a great way to boost our energy and motivation levels if we’re flagging during the day. However, it’s key to incorporate these tunes at the right time in your playlist for them to be the most effective. Playing your power song at the start and the end of the day, and when transitioning between tasks, is likely to be the best strategy.
Creates a Sense of Reward
Listening to certain types of music, and at key points in the day, can also activate our brain’s reward mechanism, meaning we get a feel-good boost that’s great for productivity!
Studies revealed that, surprisingly, video game music might be especially good as music to play in the background while working. This is because these soundscapes have been specifically designed to keep players motivated as they work towards a goal. And while defeating the end-of-level big boss and generating the invoices for the month seem worlds apart, they’re actually pretty similar as far as our brains are concerned.
Picks up the Pace
The same study mentioned above also found that dance music with a fast beat may even result in a speedier workflow! This is based on research that found that a group of proofreaders who listened to this type of music as they worked increased their proofreading speed by around 20%.
It Could Make Us Smarter
Listening to music at work could also improve productivity by literally making us smarter! While this hasn’t been conclusively proved, some studies suggest that regularly listening to Mozart can improve memory function, concentration, ability to navigate complex tasks, and general cognitive capacity.
Creates a Positive Work Environment
Having background music that we enjoy playing as we work is a great way to help create a positive work environment and can help link our ideas around working with good feelings.
Of course, this may be harder to achieve in a communal working space, where everyone will likely have different music tastes. Classical, ambient, or nature-inspired tracks are probably best stuck to in this case.
Promotes Proper Winding Down
Being as productive as possible means having enough downtime – and relaxing sufficiently – to begin work again the next day refreshed and full of energy. Listening to music can help here, too. Simply having a relaxed few tracks that you play during the last half hour of every day can help you begin the transition to out-of-work time and act as a powerful signal to your brain that it’s time to switch gears.
Harnessing the Power of Music to Boost Productivity
Use the guide above to create a personal work playlist that reflects your music tastes and what works best for you. Being strategic about where on your playlist you place certain songs is crucial and can help you maintain powerful productivity levels throughout your work day.
Listen to our Neon Music Presents Good Vibes Only playlist.