work boombox blues

[gurdonark]

I notice that when my little Sony CFD S22 is playing a CD, I work much better than otherwise. Perhaps it's because the sound of music makes me feel that I live in a universe with an Intelligent Design (albeit a design I am not willing to impose on the public schools). The studies generally say that work productivity drops with workplace music, but I am at my best when someone I respect (or am learning to respect) is soundtracking my focus on document creation.

Comments

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

Lucinda Williams!

She's too intense for me to listen to at work.

Good thing none of my bosses have ever read the bits about workplace work, because I listen to headphones ALL THE TIME. Maybe that'll change when I get into my own office (Monday!) but it's certainly the case now.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

One nice thing about owning the firm is that you don't have to worry who knows you're listening to music :)

I think that depends on the music/person

[woody77.livejournal.com]

I'd be curious to see those studies, as my own personal observations jive with yours.

I'm curious what they used as the test workplaces, and the test music. Piping in radio stations into industrial settings (often done in some factories) could definitely have mixed results. Especially since radio DJs and commercials are meant to be attention grabbing. Then you have the issue of different tastes in music. Play country and have the place tries to revolt while the other half is signing along (badly... :)

I personally prefer to listen to various kinds of the very broad category of electronica when at work. Steady, quick beats, simple repetitive strains layered to form much more complex music (kinda like Mozart, but the individual strains/samples are much less complex). Ambient eletronic stuff is great (ATB, BT, DJ Keoki, etc.) as it just continually flows without really reaching up to interrupt your working. Yet it's also ratehr fast paced, so it tends to get me thinking faster. I find it excellent for increasing my ability to completely absorb myself in what I'm working on.

I think that the background of ordered sounds probably greatly enhances logical thinking (I have no proof of this), especially when compared to the highly chaotic/noise sounds of air conditioning, computers, and such.

Just my own observations on the subject...

Re: I think that depends on the music/person

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Funny you mention that--I find that ambient always helps me focus and remain productive. It probably is person to person, genre to genre and workplace to workplace on this stuff. Thanks for commenting!