You’re sitting at your desk trying to finish up your work, but as you stare hard at your computer screen in attempts to focus, all you can hear are conversations of the people in the neighboring cubicle and the constant ringing of the office telephone. So you contemplate throwing in some headphones to help drown out the outside noise, but you’re hesitant because isn’t the sound of your favorite song just as distracting as the surrounding office noise?
Nope. In fact, melodious sounds help encourage the release of dopamine which is a pleasure hormone that’s located in the reward area of the brain. People with the disorder ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, tend to have lower levels of dopamine in their brain, which makes it harder to stay attentive. Usually, when we are forced to focus for long periods of time, our minds are inclined to wander, and they often travel to unhappy thoughts and imperfections. Music can bring our attention back to the current moment and improve our mood through this dopamine release. When you’re in a good mood, you’re less likely to make hasty decisions and more likely to think clearly than when you’re stressed. In one study on how music affects workplace performance, information technology specialists who listened to music completed tasks more quickly and even came up with better ideas than those who worked without it.
It’s not uncommon for people to feel that music makes the work day go faster and gives you energy to fuel the creative process. It is also said that music triggers and increases our ability to recall data. Which is why you’re able to blurt out the lyrics to your favorite 90’s pop song as soon as it comes on even though you haven’t heard it in forever. In one study conducted by Stanford University scientists, playing a symphony for participants stimulated the part of the brain associated with attention. In another, the Journal of American Medical Association studied the heart rate, blood pressure, and response time of 50 surgeons and found their problem solving ability improved when able to choose their own soundtrack.
So go ahead, turn on your favorite jams, and get to work! The question is: What are you listening to?
*Check out EthoSource’s office playlist, compiling all of our team’s favorite workday tunes!