deepstash
Beta
The Science Backed Ways Music Affects Your Brain and Productivity
Effects of music on productivity
- Listening to music with lyrics is distracting for most people. It’s best to avoid it when working on tasks that require focus or the learning of new information.
- Listening to music with lyrics may help people working on repetitive or mundane tasks.
- Classical or rock music allows people to identify numbers more quickly and accurately.
- Ambient noise, or ambient music, at about 70 decibels can be the best kind of music for work productivity. But increasing it over 85 decibels hurts creativity.
- Searching for the right artist can detract from workplace productivity but, once you know what works for you, music can become a tool for near-instant concentration.
1303 SAVES
This is a professional note extracted from an online article.
Read more efficiently
Save what inspires you
Remember anything
IDEA EXTRACTED FROM:
2
Key Ideas
Effects of music on productivity
- Listening to music with lyrics is distracting for most people. It’s best to avoid it when working on tasks that require focus or the learning of new information.
- Listening to music with lyrics may help people working on repetitive or mundane tasks.
- Classical or rock music allows people to identify numbers more quickly and accurately.
- Ambient noise, or ambient music, at about 70 decibels can be the best kind of music for work productivity. But increasing it over 85 decibels hurts creativity.
- Searching for the right artist can detract from workplace productivity but, once you know what works for you, music can become a tool for near-instant concentration.
Music and the brain
Music has a real impact on human emotions and perception. Music activates different areas of the brain in different people, but there are general brain and mood patterns revealed by music research.
For the most part, research suggests that listening to music can improve your efficiency, creativity and happiness in terms of work-related tasks.
SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
6
Key Ideas
Music and work
Music and repetitive tasks
When a task is clearly defined and repetitive in nature, music makes it more enjoyable.
It isn’t the music itself, but rather the improved mood your favorite music brings that will give a boost in productivity.
Ambient noise
Moderate noise level can get creative juices flowing, but the line is easily crossed; loud noises made it incredibly difficult to concentrate.
Bellowing basses and screeching synths will do you more harm than good when engaging in deep work.
3 more ideas
7
Key Ideas
Music for better productivity and focus
- Classical music: Songs with no lyrics are often considered the finest form of the craft, always a popular choice.
- Electronic music is repetitive, ...
Familiar songs are best for focus
It’s best to listen to music you are familiar with if you need intense focus for a project.
New music is surprising; since you don’t know what to expect, you are inclined to listen closely to see what comes next.
Lyrics can be distracting
For activities that don’t require concentration, music with lyrics has some benefits. But with immersive tasks, lyrics are especially destructive to our focus.
Trying to engage in language-related tasks ( e.g. writing ) while listening to lyrics would be akin to holding a conversation while another person talks over you… while also strumming a guitar.
4 more ideas
7
Key Ideas
Happy/sad music
Our brains respond differently to happy or sad music.
One study revealed that participants interpreted a neutral expression as happy or sad to match the tone of the music they heard.
Ambient noise can improve creativity
A moderate noise level is ideal to improve our creativity. It increases the processing difficulty which stimulates abstract processing, leading to higher creativity.
High noise levels impair our creative thinking because we feel overwhelmed and struggle to process information properly.
Music and personality
Different genres correspond to our personality. For instance:
- Blues and Jazz fans have high self-esteem, are creative, outgoing, gentle and at ease
- Classical music fans have high self-esteem, are creative, introvert and at ease
- Opera fans have high self-esteem, are creative and gentle
- Rock/heavy metal fans have low self-esteem, are creative, not hard-working, not outgoing, gentle, and at ease
4 more ideas
8
Key Ideas
Music between tasks could boost productivity
Although there may be detrimental effects of listening to music while working, listening to music in between tasks can boost your mental performance and the ability to concentrate on a task ...
Music familiarity is best for focus
Certain regions in our brain—which evoke strong emotions and improve concentration—are more active when we listen to familiar rather than unfamiliar music.
Plus, when we listen to unfamiliar music we’re more likely to lose focus, while adjusting to the new sound.
Music and repetitive tasks
Music can make repetitive tasks more pleasurable and increase your concentration on the task.
For example, one study discovered that music could improve the performance of surgeons who take on repetitive nonsurgical laboratory tasks.
5 more ideas
![Music and the Brain [Effects of Music on the Brain] - Thrive Global](https://content.thriveglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MM_MusicxMind-Picture.jpg?quality=60&resize=60,36)
14
Key Ideas
Music and memory
Music helps with making memories from long ago feel relevant again. When you hear a song that had specific meaning to you in the past, the memory of that moment will come back with unbelievable ...
Music improves your focus
This happens because music stimulates the entire brain and not just segments of it. Using this knowledge can help you in various ways.
- Meditation. Some people use music to help them clear their minds.
- Listening to music while studying or working can help you remember more of the information.
- During exercise. It takes the mind’s focus off of fatigue.
- Focus on sleep. Music calms the mind and causes you to focus on your rest.
Music increases your creativity
Ambient music at 70 decibels will increase specific creative tasks by activating the parts of the brain that think in abstract ways.
11 more ideas
7
Key Ideas
Classical Music
Listening to classical music can help people perform tasks more efficiently.
The absence of words in the music may be one factor, as songs that contain lyrics have been found to ...
“The Mozart Effect”
This theory suggests that listening to classical composers can enhance brain activity and act as a catalyst for improving health and well-being.
Nature Music
Listening to the sounds of nature (waves crashing or a babbling brook) has been shown to boost moods and focus. They also help mask harsher, more distracting noises, such as people talking or typing
Nature sounds work best when they’re soothing sounds (flowing water or rainfall, while more jarring noises (bird calls and animal noises) can be distracting.
4 more ideas
6
Key Ideas
Your Desk
Put your monitor high enough to keep your neck straight, s...
Organization
A cluttered desk sometimes triggers a cluttered mind. That's why everything should have its place, even if that place is just “the right-most stack.” A desk system that matches your personal organization style saves both time and headache.
Colors
- Red accelerates the heart rate, giving you a jolt of energy. Your eye is instantly drawn to red, and it promotes physical activity and emotion.
- Orange is a social color, encouraging interaction. It works well in meeting rooms or other social spaces.
- Yellow stimulates creativity and optimism.
- Green is calming, and also causes zero eye strain over long periods of time.
- Blue is calming and stable, it helps most people focus on intensive tasks.
- Purple stimulates problem solving, despite not being a very popular color in workspace decor.
3 more ideas
7
Key Ideas
Music helps creativity
One of the most remarkable effects of music on the brain is that it stimulates the release of dopamine, which is a brain mediator that lifts your spirit. We produce 9% more dopamine from...
Ambient for creativity
Moderate noise cultivates creativity, too loud or fast music leaves you hyperstimulated, while complete silence makes your brain bored.
Music and exercise
Upbeat music makes you feel more energetic while you are exercising. It shifts your focus from the intensity of the exercise. Your body also needs less oxygen during the workout.
The best tempo for exercise is 145BPM. Faster music does not produce more stimulation.
4 more ideas