Music in the office – why it’s good for you and which music to listen to
Listening to music at work increases productivity and attention levels, according to the findings of a study conducted by Mindlab International on behalf of Music Works, which demonstrates the undeniable benefits of background music played in the workplace at a volume not exceeding 70 decibels.
According to that study, 88% of participants were shown to be more precise and accurate in their work, while 81% achieved their working objectives more rapidly. So which music should we choose in the workplace in order to optimize performance? Here are the four most effective genres.
- Natural sounds
Sounds originating in nature have the capacity to relax, invoke pleasant feelings and stimulate concentration. Whoever should wish to listen to them can use a tool such as Simply Noise or Rainy Mood, where many different varieties can be found.
- Classical music
Considering that we are explaining which music increases productivity, those people involved in a creative profession may want to choose passages by composers such as Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart or Beethoven: their classical works in fact reduce states of anxiety and stimualate the imagination.
- Electronic music
Electronic music is perfectly suited to those who work in a scientific field, such as carrying out repetitive tasks or work requiring long periods of intense concentration.
- Hip-hop, indie rock, jazz and blues
These genres of music are especially suited to all those who carry out delicate work, such as computer programmers. As well as helping to maintain concentration, they also allow you to remain alert and productive.
Listening to music at work can be relaxing, pleasant and enjoyable, but we must still remember to choose the right melodies and volume to fit the circumstances, because if, for example, we play the sound of birds warbling at full volume , instead of increasing production we will just end up with a terrible headache.
Now that we have presented our tips on which music to choose at work, in order to obtain even greater benefits, you should also remember to vary the music and genres you listen to as much as possible. That way you can avoid becoming bored, impatient, or worse still, irritable!
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
