subject: Music while you work [print this page] Music while you work Music while you work
Stay upbeat despite the stress and breeze through the workday. Music not only lifts you out of negativity, it creates a bubble of sanity in which you can perform at your peak.
I like to pair music to my energy level and the task at hand. In the morning, I'm reviewing my projects and deciding what I want to accomplish. I like a quiet environment and keep the music sweet and slow. I listen to instrumental arrangements with bells that send part of my mind to the backstreets of Kyoto. The music clears my mind of distractions before I settle into working on a project.
When I'm at my computer, I hardly notice the music, but I'mreceptive to the mood it conveys. When I'm jamming under a deadline, I like traditional Celtic music with lots of fiddles. I instantly feel happy and unstoppable, like I've had a double shot of espresso. Sometimes I'm in the mood for Briand Adams, which is my favorite singer.
In the afternoon -when I'm planning, scheduling and processing email- I switch to Rimsky-Korsakov, Philip Glass or music embellished with arias like Beethovens's Moonlight Sonata.
Don't push the panic button, push the play button
A recent study of radiologists found that Baroque classical music produced the greatest positive effects with regard to mood and work satisfaction. "Other studies correlate Baroque classical music with improved spatial reasoning, attentiveness and concentration," said lead researcherDr. Lakhani. "Personally, I have found that listening to music aids my concentration and interpretative abilities."
Other research indicates that a person's ability to recognize visual images, including letters and numbers, is faster when either rock or classical music is playing in the background. Researchers have discovered that music with an upbeat rhythm can reduce stress hormone levels by as much as 41 percent.
The type of music you listen to matters. Well-publicized studies have centered on the so-called Mozart Effect from a study in which college students solved mathematical problems faster when listening to classical music.
If your goal is to increase your concentration then choose music with a constant, easy beat and light melodies. Anything by Mozart will impact your productivity. Baroque music is also conducive to alert, relaxed thinking, especially the works of Vivaldi, Bach and Handel, the most popular Baroque composers. Jazz and Baroque share many similarities, so include a few jazz greats on your playlist.
What about you, what kind of music do you listen while you are working?
