Listening to music while working, good or bad idea?
- Posted on 13/02/2025 16:15
- Film
- By kolaniyendoumiesther@gmail.com
Extract from the article: Working with headphones screwed on your ears is not always a good idea, when you have to concentrate. But if you need inspiration to come up with a great idea, don't hesitate to listen to your favorite songs, ...
Working
with headphones screwed on your ears is not always a good idea, when you have
to concentrate. But if you need inspiration to come up with a great idea, don't
hesitate to listen to your favorite songs, and let your mind wander.
« It helps me
concentrate. » Who hasn't used this excuse to listen to music while revising
their lessons, or working on a boring project? However, according to a study
published in 2019 in «Applied Cognitive Psychology», listening to music while
working significantly harms creativity. So, good or bad idea? The results of
this work, cited by the newspaper «Time», call into question the
idea that background music enhances creativity. Whether the music is familiar
or not, vocal or strictly instrumental, it seems to distract more than anything
else.
But don’t throw away the
earbuds or headphones just yet. Other research on music and creativity has
shown that, depending on the type of creative task a person is facing, certain
types of music can be helpful. A 2017 study published in the journal Plos One
found that listening to happy music, defined as classical tunes that are upbeat
and stimulating, helps people perform better on tasks that involve unexpected,
original, and creative thinking. One theory put forward in this study is that
lively music stimulates the brain in a way that promotes a flexible thinking
style that leads to unconventional or innovative ideas.
In what
situations can music help?
Listening to music can
reduce anxiety and improve mood, and these changes could facilitate creativity.
Anxiety, on the other hand, tends to increase concentration, which is not
helpful. Indeed, creative problem solving happens in stages. The first consists
of studying a problem and evaluating obvious (and useless) solutions. The
second is marked by an unconscious incubation phase, where the brain works on
unexpected solutions. It is during this stage that certain activities, such as
music, can stimulate the diversion of attention necessary for the brain to
develop its new ideas. Music is therefore not recommended when you have to
solve a problem that requires attention and concentration. It is also not
useful when studying a problem.
But you can put on your
favorite songs whenever you are stuck on something and need creative
inspiration. Taking a break to listen to music involves an idle mental
wandering that is completely necessary for the brain. Is a particular type of
music recommended? The answer varies depending on the individual, but if
possible something pleasant and familiar, to avoid distraction.
Source : « Santé Magazine »
