How Is Your Workplace Productivity?

     Whether it is country, pop, or even rock and roll, we all have that one genre that really gets our blood pumping and brings a smile to our faces. Of course we jam out to our music in the car or during a visit to the gym. But do you listen to your favorite music at the office? That is simply unheard of, right? Actually, recent studies show that listening to your favorite music while completing a task is actually proven to increase productivity and creativity while simultaneously decreasing stress. Of course there is no magic song that will miraculously increase your productivity.
The magic behind the music is simple. Music makes us happy. Music encourages a release of dopamine in the pleasure center of the brain. This has a similar effect to eating a food you find pleasant. It is no surprise that the release of dopamine helps to counteract feelings of stress. We have all found ourselves stuck in a stressful situation that may cause us to make hasty decisions or possibly cause us to stray away from the decision making process as a whole. When we eliminate these negative feelings and replace them with positive feelings we allow ourselves to open ourselves up to multiple creative thoughts and actually analyze the tasks at hand. As with all things, listening to music in the work place has its limits. It can be very easy to slip in a pair of headphones all day and retreat into your own little world. This can be an obvious no-no when dealing with client or coworker interaction. However, a short 15-minute break to listen to your favorite songs and refocus attention has the ability to drastically change your mood and mindset for the day. After all, a happy mind is a healthy mind. So why not give it a try? Next time you are feeling stressed or mediocre in the workplace slip in a pair of headphones and put on a song you enjoy. Besides lifting your mood, you might just find yourself more productive than ever.