What Type of Music Can Boost Your Productivity While Working Remotely?
What’s your opinion about people who listen to classical music? If you think of the audience at a concert where Mozart is the composer, do you imagine high class, well-educated people? It’s a common idea, that those who listen to the classics are more cultured and refined; smarter. It’s probably true to say that there’s a different expectation of that audience than there is at say, a Cardi B concert.
But is there more to it than just age and social status? Is it possible that listening to classical music can actually make you smarter and improve productivity while working? You might have heard of ‘The Mozart Effect’ which claims that just listening to the classics gives you an IQ boost. Does classical music can give you a mental boost and improve your productivity, either working remotely or in office?
The Best 3 Types of Music to Boost Your Productivity While Working Remotely
Without a doubt, there were times where you found yourself in a situation where you find it to be difficult to concentrate. While others can perform in a quiet environment, others are opting to listen to music. But what type of music is recommended to stay focused?
- Classical music
- Nature music
- Favorite music
Effect of Mozart Music on Brain
Back in 1993, Frances Rauscher, Gordon Shaw, and Catherine Ky conducted an experiment. They asked participants to take spatial reasoning tests under three conditions; listening to Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D, listening to verbal relaxation instructions, and in silence. The study found that there was a measurable increase in spatial reasoning when listening to Mozart and for up to fifteen minutes afterwards.
The World’s press then got hold of this study and extrapolated that, if the music improved spatial reasoning then it must also improve IQ – even though IQ was never measured as part of the study. In 1997, Don Campbell wrote The Mozart Effect: Tapping the Power of Music to Heal the Body, Strengthen the Mind, and Unlock the Creative Spirit which was followed by music CDs and a range of products aimed at babies and children.
But then other studies tried to replicate the results that Rauscher et al had reported. They discovered that there was nothing special about Mozart, or even classical music. Listening to any sort of music would give a similar cognitive boost.
The fascination that scientists had for music and the brain didn’t stop there, though. Work has continued to measure the effects that playing and listening to music can have on us. The good news is, that while the Mozart effect isn’t all its cracked up to be, having some beats in the background can do other things for us like:
1. Mental Health
In 2011, researchers discovered that listening to music can increase the levels of dopamine in the brain by up to 9%. You might have heard of dopamine in the context of Parkinson’s Disease, however it does many things in the body, including elevating mood. Listening to your favourite music, whether that’s a sonata or some thrash metal, will help you deal with stress and lift your mood. Definitely this can be part of the self care routine.
2. Memory
Studies show that you are more likely to remember something if you’re in a good mood. So that dopamine lift can also help you to improve your memory. If you’re studying, or working on something that needs you to recall facts and figures then putting on a tune will help you form memories more effectively.
Conclusion
While it doesn’t seem like we can rely on Mozart to make us all instant geniuses, there are definitely some benefits to listening to music while working from home. Having background music playing can help boost your mood and aid your memory so why not give it a try the next time you’re preparing for a meeting?
