Listening To Music Can Increase Work Efficiency

Being surrounded by workplace noise and distractions is the worst possible situation. Five distinct conversations are taking place nearby, phones are ringing, and the copier is humming. You can sometimes get back into the zone by drowning out that noise.

Today, research shows that listening to music can help alleviate negative feelings like anxiety, depression, and stress. Even elderly patients recovering from surgery may experience fewer episodes of confusion and delirium as a result. In addition, research indicates that listening to happy or sad music can influence our perception of how happy or sad other people are. All of these findings show that, for better or worse, music has a real effect on how we feel.

We can look to a subfield of research known as neuro musicology, which studies how our nervous systems respond to music, for information on how music affects the brain. In essence, music enters the inner ear and engages numerous brain regions, some of which are also utilized for other cognitive functions.

However, these benefits come with restrictions. For instance, studies appear to agree that most people find it distracting to listen to music with lyrics. As a result, when working on tasks that require intense concentration or the acquisition of new information, it is frequently suggested that we refrain from listening to music with lyrics.

On the other hand, people working on mundane or repetitive tasks may benefit from listening to music with lyrics because the music's distracting nature can provide some relief from the monotony of boring work.