Many people claim that if they listen to music while working, they cannot fully concentrate on the task at hand. Their minds can sometimes get caught up in the mesmerizing melodies, resulting in decreased productivity and even potential confusion and mistakes. Therefore, the question of whether it is beneficial to listen to music while working is always a subject of debate.
Whether listening to music while working is beneficial or not depends on the nature of the task and the type of music you enjoy.
Urgent tasks, no music
If your work is complex and urgent, such as:
A crucial report that requires extensive research, multiple analyses, meticulous summarization, word choice, etc.
A meticulously planned event that demands extreme creativity.
A task you have never done before, with the goal of improving your skills and self-discipline.
Then I advise you to turn off the music and focus solely on your work.
Numerous studies on productivity and music have shown that listening to music tends to decrease productivity when it comes to complex tasks.
It’s like a handsome young man or a beautiful girl appearing in front of you, and you become less attentive to your surroundings. This is also true for cognitive resources, as they are limited to a certain extent.
Complex or difficult tasks often require a lot of focused resources to complete. If you listen to music while working on such tasks, it’s like trying to do two things at once, and the effectiveness of your work will naturally be diminished.
If you have a complex task that needs to be urgently resolved, plug in your headphones and don’t listen to anything at all. This is the most effective way to solve the problem.
If it’s a daily task, you can listen to music
Although it is impossible to enjoy music while doing important tasks, listening to music while performing everyday mundane tasks is not impossible.
In summary, when you need to do some simple, familiar, and mundane daily tasks, feel free to listen to music.
Studies have shown that music can actually enhance performance in simple tasks.
Many people feel that music can boost their speed of movement. Fast-paced songs can make running more enjoyable. So, if the current task is familiar, repetitive, and easy to do, music can assist in increasing productivity.
Research indicates that music is beneficial for physical activities and tasks that involve physical exertion. Furthermore, music can make repetitive tasks more enjoyable. When working, listening to familiar songs is more effective than listening to new ones.
Listening to music during break time also has its effects. A study on adolescents showed that listening to music during break time improves long-term study results and concentration.
So, is it good to listen to music while working? Scientists say it depends on four factors: the ratio of lyrics in the song, the familiarity of the music, the repetitiveness of the task, and whether the task is physical or mental. The choice of suitable music to listen to while working should also consider these factors.
For monotonous and repetitive tasks, such as filling out forms, where standard steps need to be taken, you do not need to fully concentrate. Opening a few relaxing tunes can make your body and mind more comfortable, leading to higher work efficiency.
However, for complex and urgent tasks, such as handling an important report that requires extensive research and careful analysis, it is recommended to turn off the music and focus solely on the task at hand.
Many studies on the relationship between productivity and music have shown that listening to music tends to decrease productivity when people are engaged in complex tasks that require high levels of concentration. This is because difficult tasks often require a lot of focused resources to complete. When listening to music while working on such tasks, you end up doing two things at once, and the effectiveness naturally decreases.
