How Music Can Improve Productivity
Isabella Cannon
| 3 min read
Isabella Cannon is a 2024 Corporate Communications intern for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. She currently attends Eastern Michigan University as a public relations and marketing student.
Music can be a very powerful tool. You may have noticed you feel more grounded and have a higher ability to focus when listening to music. Have you ever wondered why that is?
According to the National Library of Medicine, music listening improves cognitive functions such as memory, attention span, and behavioral augmentation.
Music has the potential to boost our concentration, mindset, and performance if used in the right way, at the right time, and during the right task.
One size does not fit all
When it comes to choosing music to listen to improve your productivity, it’s important to keep in mind it’s not one size fits all. Your productivity with music can be dependent on many factors such as:
- Your personality
- Choice of music
- Volume of music
- Task complexity
Altering mood
Listening to music while working can enhance or alter your mood.
According to a study conducted by the Harvard Business Review, most people perform best when they pick music they enjoy and that matches their natural personality. However, there are times your work will benefit from departing from your current mood state. When selecting a song you have two choices:
- Pick music that will naturally enhance your emotional state
- Augment your emotional state by choosing music that represents how you want to feel
Music positively impacts your productivity because it activates the reward centers of your brain, especially when you hear a novel cord or a moment where the music shifts, according to research by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Natural sounds
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute recently discovered that adding a natural element could boost moods and focus.
Sounds of nature can mask intelligible speech just as well as white noise while also enhancing cognitive functioning, optimizing the ability to concentrate, and increasing overall worker satisfaction.
Tempo
Music with a steady beat is better for productivity than music with a more varied tempo. A study published by the National Library of Medicine found when sound was more variable, it was more distracting.
Songs with lyrics vs. no lyrics
In general, studies have found music with no lyrics is more beneficial and less distracting than those with lyrics. Music with uplifting or positive messages has been found to raise efficiency, particularly in repetitive work.
As a rule of thumb, you should choose music that doesn’t compete with the task you’re trying to accomplish. For example, if you’re doing a language-oriented task like writing or preparing a presentation, you are wise to listen to non-verbal music. On the other hand, if you’re doing a task which is non-verbal like designing a graphic, the lyrics may help you get creative or stay motivated.
Listening to music between tasks
A study published by the Psychology of Music, showed that music in-between tasks could boost student academic performance and the ability to concentrate on a task for long periods of time.
If you are working on a more complex task, it might be a good idea to work in silence. Then, periodically step away to listen to music, before returning to work to boost your overall mental performance.
Image: Getty Images
Related:
- Music Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease (ahealthiermichigan.org)
- What Is the 5 to 9 Before Your 9 to 5 Productivity Trend? (ahealthiermichigan.org)
- What is Self-Care & How Does it Benefit Health? (ahealthiermichigan.org)
