When the workday drags on, many pull out the headphones to make tasks more bearable. But by choosing to listen to music while working, are you really boosting your productivity or are you unknowingly sabotaging it?
Study investigates listening to music at work
A study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology followed 22 men for 60 minutes on a complex computer task, with cortisol samples and an electrocardiogram to measure heart rate variability. Researchers have shown that moderate physiological arousal promotes the state of flow, while too high a level has the opposite effect.
For Anna Fiveash, cognitive psychology researcher at Western Sydney University, this setting largely depends on your temperament, introvert or extrovert.
“Introverts already have a high baseline level of internal arousal; adding background music could push them beyond their optimal level, likely reducing productivity. Extroverts, on the other hand, have lower baseline levels of internal arousal and therefore need more external stimulation to perform at their optimal level.”
In other words, the same playlist will not produce the same effect depending on who wears it.
The impact of music on stress and concentration
The study of Journal of Experimental Social Psychology used the Trier Social Stress Test to activate the hormonal system that manages the stress response.
Cortisol levels and heart rate variability confirmed an inverted U-shaped relationship: too little stimulation and you’re bored, too much stimulation and you’re overwhelmed. Between the two, the state of flow sets in, with more motivation and a feeling of time passing faster.
Music acts like a volume button on this physiological awakening:
- Fast, loud music increases arousal, while soft music stabilizes it;
- Calm songs can help memory, while aggressive music tires and distracts;
- For complex reading or writing tasks, the presence of words causes a frequent drop in performance;
- For simple and repetitive tasks, the positive effect is much more likely.
Introverts or extroverts: different brain tolerance
For an introvert who is already very internally stimulated, rhythmic music in an open space can cause the alertness meter to explode and hinder concentration. In an extrovert, this same background sound helps them reach their optimal zone. This reading grid is starting to spread in companies, which are more tolerant of headsets to let everyone adjust their environment.
A study published in Frontiers in Psychology provides another filter: working memory capacity. By observing 81 students exposed to pop songs or silence, the researchers found that the higher the working memory, the better the participants understood their texts despite the music. So not everyone has the same “multitasking brain” when dealing with a playlist.
How to adjust your playlist to stay in the sweet spot
Research published in Acta Psychologica shows that many people spontaneously reduce the sound when the task becomes difficult. To optimize your day, adopt a simple rule: keep music moderate and more instrumental for emails, filing or spreadsheets, then turn off the sound whenever you need to write, analyze or memorize.
Testing different sound backgrounds over a few days will allow you to identify your own balance point between calm and stimulation. By listening to your real needs rather than your impulses, you will transform your headphones into a fantastic tool for peace of mind and efficiency on a daily basis.