The "activation theory" is the idea is that people need a certain amount of mental arousal to function effectively.
One 1995 study found that when workers at a large retail organization were allowed to listen to personal stereos for one month, regardless of their choice of music, their performance improved significantly. The reason for improvements in productivity was how relaxed they felt.

Altering our mood

During World War II, the BBC broadcasted upbeat music in factories twice a day to see if it might step up the pace of work and get the military what they needed. It worked. One report stated that the output at a factory increased by 12,5-15%.
Since then, music has started to play an important role in productivity.

Music and productivity

There are two possible ways music might be beneficial while working:
<ul>
<li>It makes us feel good, therefore helping us to work through otherwise tedious tasks.</li>
<li>It makes us smarter. The Mozart effect is a well-known example - that listening to a piano sonata composed by a genius can make you perform better.</li>
</ul>
Some famous composers' work has better cognitive benefits than others. Studies show that Mozart's sonata increased "alpha band" brain waves, which is linked to memory, cognition, and problem-solving.

The benefits of music

Playing the right music in the office motivates staff.
When you're concentrating, you'll want calmer, more relaxing music. At the end of the day, when you're feeling tired, you'll desire more upbeat music.

Music and motivation

Some scientists think that music doesn't help us at all. It's possible that we view the ability to listen to music as a privilege from our employers, and convincing ourselves that we are working harder in turn.
In some contexts, music is actively detrimental, such as problem-solving, while listening to more cognitively demanding music, like jazz. One study found students performed worse in reading-comprehension and maths scores when they did them to music.

Skewed perception

One meta-analysis concluded that background music disturbs the reading process and has a small harmful effect on memory, but has a positive impact on emotional reactions and improves achievements in sports.
Music might be beneficial in the workplace, depending on the type of work, the genre of music, your control over the music, and your personality.

Keeping the context in mind

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Books

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Science & Nature

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Health

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Productivity

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Music

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Personal Development

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Time Management

Music and Productivity

The debate over whether we should be allowed to rock out at our desks has been raging for decades. Now science is providing some answers – and they’re not what you think.