Thursday, 10 April 2014

Music To My Ears...




A recent poll on our Company page titled 'What Helps You Focus While At Work?' led to the surfacing of some surprising results. While many thought 'Taking Notes' was the biggest helper when it came to increasing concentration at work, a significant 37% chose music to be the portentous element in influencing levels of focus at work.  



While some may deem music to be a workplace distraction, calling it detrimental to employee productivity, there are many who feel that the strains of soft music entering your ears as you go about doing your daily tasks is beneficial and even proves to add to your constructive efforts.

Years ago, the term Mozart Effect was coined to explain the favorable effects of Mozart's compositions helped in healing and development of the brain as well as an increased IQ. In addition to the the aforementioned facts, Dr Amit Sood with the Mayo Clinic(Minnesota), says that melodious sounds help encourage the release of dopamine(a neurotransmitter or a chemical messenger that helps in the transmission of signals in the brain and other vital areas) in the reward area of the brain, as would eating a delicacy, looking at something appealing or smelling a pleasant aroma. Music has also been found to reduce stress hormone levels by as much as 41%.



While science has proven time and again how advantageous music can prove to be to one and all, some of us still take a cautious approach when it comes to dealing with music being played at work. Hence, compiled below are some reasons that might establish the positive outcome of music on productivity:
  •  Blocks Distractions - Music helps to occupy that part of the brain that gets easily distracted. While you are focused on the task at hand, your brain's attention tends to get diverted to other places. At times like these playing soft background music like instrumentals can really elevate your attention span. 
  • Gets You On The Moon  Listening to good music gets you in the mood! One of the most prolific horror writers of our time, Stephen King, likes listening to a little bit of rock n' roll to churn out the wonderful books that generations have come to love and appreciate. While heavy metal may not be the most apt for an office environment, light instrumentals or film scores can definitely set the vibe.
  • Makes You Fall In Love With Your Work - Music has the power to make work more enjoyable. Haven't we heard the proverb about all work and no play that made Jack a dull boy? Sitting in front of the computer all day long may make days monotonous and boring. A enjoyable tune floating in the air can totally change your attitude and get you all revved up for the day.
  • Boosts Creativity - Music inspires creativity. When you are focused, in a good mood and enjoying your work your brain starts breeding creativity. 

So is music really one of the factors that motivates you to concentrate better? Or do you still belong to the school of thought that thinks music is just another distraction and would lead to time and energy wastage thereby hampering productivity?
Do  tune in to drop in a line and give us your take on the subject.

For Your Reference ~ Studies That Evaluate The Effect of Music On Productivity

Lesiuk 

Blood & Ferriss 






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