How Music Can Spur the Productivity of Your Workplace

How Music Can Spur the Productivity of Your Workplace Image Source: Deposit Photos The benefits of music on brain function have been widely acknowledge by the medical community, but did you know that they might come in handy at work as well? In this article, we will discuss how both listening to and playing your favorite tunes during office hours enhances productivity and creates a more prolific environment overall. 5 Ways Music Improves Productivity 1.           Noise and Clutter Are Drowned Out A lot of things have changed about the office in the modern age. One innovation that seems to stay here for good is the open office. As detailed by the New Yorker, around 70% of modern companies follow this architectural design, but it is intrinsically flawed nonetheless. So, where does this model fail? It’s no secret that the main purpose of open offices is to promote a sense of unity within the company. While this is undeniably positive and achieved by the design on some level, it doesn’t mean that it causes no damage. For one, the attention span, creativity, and dedication of workers is severely impacted. Imagine the following scenario: you have an important project deadline coming up, and you need to get started with your tasks as soon as possible. You are excited by the opportunities this will open in your career, but all of a sudden everyone seems to be talking about a million other topics over their cubicle walls. How are you expected to focus your knowledge and energy in this environment? Fortunately, music is excellent at drowning out the other noise and clutter around you. Pop your headphones on and allow your playlist to transport your mind to the comfort zone. You will perform well even under the toughest of circumstances. 2.           Repetitive Tasks Become More Accessible Regardless of what the nature of your job is, you probably are no stranger to repetitive tasks. While some may find this type of consistency soothing, it’s understandable why more and more employees come to loathe them. After all, when you’re forced by circumstances to follow a tedious daily routine, actions become anything but enjoyable. The solution to this workplace-related issue lies within the power of music. According to a decades-old study conducted among industrial workers and published in Applied Ergonomics, playing background music in the factory has a beneficial impact on productivity. By drowning out machine noise and enhancing morale, operations become more successful. Transitioning into modern times, a 2005 study on the psychology of music entitled The Effect of Music Listening on Work Performance argues that improved mood is at the core of this benefit. Thus, music does more for an employee than just drown out background noise. It makes him or her happier, which leads to a better degree of performance overall. 3.           Playing Music at Work Is Prolific Image Source: Deposit Photos Engaging with music directly during office hours is an effective way to unwind and allow yourself some space to breathe. Playing a digital piano in the break room or even engaging in a brief jam session with other artistically gifted colleagues is a great way to recharge your batteries at work. This leads to an increased output of inspiration. Therefore, the ways in which the harmonies in songs improve the harmony of the workplace are twofold. Listening to music is always a solution, but so is playing it. Of course, offices need to have quite a progressive outlook on employee productivity techniques to implement this type of makeover, but its benefits speak for themselves. 4.           Brain Function Is Improved on Many Levels According to Institute for Music and the Mind at Ontario’s McMaster University director Laurel Trainor, receiving musical training from a young age enhances the prevalence of other mental abilities. Examples most notably include attention and memory, and they benefit more from playing an instrument that just listening to recordings of it. Brain power is boosted by music in even more ways, as explained by Psychology Today contributor Christopher Bergland. Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and learn, greatly benefits from song playing and listening. This occurs not only during childhood, but throughout the duration of one’s adult life as well. White matter connectivity, executive function, and blood flow to the cranium are just a few other instances of what music does for your mind. For this reason, trained musicians have been observed to possess superior multisensory processing skills. Now just imagine how it can help you during work hours. The possibilities are endless. 5.           Bonds Within the Workplace Are Created Last, but not least, music brings people together. Melodies are important to our individual lives. This is demonstrated by the fact that the human brain devotes a special section for their processing. We hear them since birth, and they bond us in ways that no other concept, idea, or factor would. Music is highly beneficial within the workplace, as it creates a tight-knit team or community striving together to achieve goals. Success is achieved more efficiently in a like-minded group, for obvious reasons. Thus, whether you are sharing your favorite tunes with coworkers, or you’re jamming together during breaks, you will become more in sync. The Bottom Line Both listening to and playing music at work are beneficial for human brain function. Not only do songs drown out chaotic noise and clutter, they also focus better the mind on the task at hand and release some of the daily stress one might experience. Music brings employees together as a unified team, which drives visible results. It’s a win-win situation.