Listening to music while working
Do we approve or not ?
At L’Occasion Café, there’s always music playing on our speakers (obviously, it’s not very loud so as not to disturb our hard-working customers 💪).
Music keeps you focused, and thanks to the background noise, your brain is less easily carried away by all the intrusive thoughts that comes in throughout the day (and which are quite distracting at times).
It’s also great for reducing stress! You know, that big rush of pressure you get just before you have to hand in a file or an assignment…😅
But we wondered: how much is music good for our concentration? Does this apply to everyone?
WHAT SCIENCE HAS TO SAY
Listening to music while working is said to stimulate memory, reduce stress and anxiety, and make you feel less tired.
However, it’s not as easy as all that, and there are a few conditions to be met…
First of all, you need to listen to music you like. While this may seem logical, I’m sure many of you have already tried your hand at a Beethoven symphony or a Mozart concerto, thinking that it would reconnect you with your inner genius.
But, unsurprisingly, when you force yourself to listen to something you don’t enjoy, you’re bound to find yourself unmotivated.
In fact, listening to music or a rhythm that you know and that boosts you, the positive feelings would influence the cognitive organization in your brain. This is also true for creativity! And that’s not from us, it’s from Teresa Lesiuk, from the University of Windsor, who has observed the influence of music on the productivity and creativity of computer engineers.
She also states that: “When you’re stressed, you tend to make hasty decisions. On the contrary, when you’re in a positive state, you’re better able to consider several options.”
Another very clever researcher also said: “Music that we like stimulates the reward circuits in our brain. This results in the production of dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of well-being.”
So, if you want to concentrate, listen to good music.
(We won’t judge you if your tastes aren’t the same as everyone else’s – it’s all very personal 😁).
BUT MUSIC CAN ALSO BREAK YOUR CONCENTRATION
You’ve probably heard it all before, but music with lyrics isn’t exactly conducive to concentration. On the contrary, the story being told in your ears can be quite emotional!
On a more serious note, it’s best to listen to instrumental music, or music with lyrics sung in another language. If you work in English, it’s best not to listen to English songs. You risk being confused by the language.
So, music to work with works under certain conditions, but not a lot!
PS: We also know that 15 minutes of listening to music has the same effect on our mood as a session of sport or a walk in nature, whatever it may be, as long as it’s part of our favorite playlist.
Of course, there’s really no right answer. If you want to work in complete silence, that’s up to you. ☺️
See you soon at Occasion Café! ✅
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