Music at work: Does it help you focus?
Listening to music at work can boost productivity, but it depends on personality, task complexity, and the type of music. Introverts may find music distracting, while extroverts often thrive with it. Simple tasks benefit from background music, while complex ones require silence or calming tunes. Timing is crucial—listening to music before a complex task can boost focus and mental readiness without distractions during work. Ultimately, experimenting to find what works best, whether through music or silence, can enhance creativity, reduce stress, and improve productivity.
Dr Anna Fiveash, ARC DECRA Research Fellow at The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development of Western Sydney University, joined us to talk about how music affects workplace productivity and how to strike the right balance.
Article on The Conversation: Can listening to music make you more productive at work?
