Your Knowledge Business Needs You To Listen to Music

Did you play an instrument as a kid? Do you still play? Whatever the answer is to those two questions, music can play a big part in a more productive workplace. September is Classical Music Month, but even if you hate classical music, it’s a great month to get back in tune with the music you do like. (See what I did there? I slay me.)

How music can lead to improving productivity

If you think about it, it’s a little bit magical that humans have devised ways to make pleasant sounds. And lots of ways, too: there are instruments with keyboards, some with struts and frets and strings, some that you blow through, and some that you bang on. 

And yet, none of this inventiveness directly affects the survival of the species. (You could argue that pleasant music helps set the scene for a little propagation, but it’s not necessary.) Like drawing and painting and telling stories, music has been a part of our prehistory but not required for survival.

The human brain apparently likes music, and studies show that music is good for the brain. These studies are usually in the context of trying to prevent arts and music classes from being canceled in schools, but music is just as good for an adult brain as it is for a child’s. And (say it with me) if it’s good for the brain, it’s good for productivity.

But that’s not the only benefit music has for a more productive workplace. It uses a different part of the brain from thinky work like spreadsheets, tax returns, financial plans, architecture plans, and marketing strategies.

It gives your brain a break, much as talking to friends and enjoying favorite hobbies does. You get to do something you like that isn't tiring to your brain and doesn’t require a lot of mind-fatiguing decisions. You get to fill up your productivity tank instead of draining it as we all normally do all day long.

What music is best for improving productivity?

You can probably go online and find playlists that are supposed to be good for your brain. Binaural beats are currently popular, and if you like that type of music then it’s fine to play. But it’s not magically going to make you smarter or more productive compared to some other type of music that you like to listen to.

The answer is short and simple. Play the music that you like. American culture tends to make people think that if we enjoy something, it can’t be good for us. And that the converse, if we don’t like something it must be good for us, is also true. 

And sometimes, yes, this is the case. Food companies have learned to tweak their formulations so that they’re full of sugar, fat, and salt, which makes them craveable and tasty. All the additives and the processing also make those foods unhealthy, but for most people they’re a lot tastier than a healthy stalk of broccoli.

So you might be thinking you have to listen to music that’s a specific kind. That you don’t like. Such as classical, because that’s sometimes considered “highbrow” and something you should aspire to.

Hate classical music? Don’t listen to it. Hate binaural beats? Put them away. Listen to whatever your taste is, whatever you enjoy. You can actually (gasp) sit down and listen, or get up and dance, or listen while you’re doing chores, or whatever. Country, trance, hip-hop, trap, EDM, rock, heavy metal… whatever it is. Even classical as long as you genuinely like it.

Even better is playing music. It’s great for your brain. If you have access to an instrument, take an hour or so away from your usual Netflix-and-chill and play instead. Take some lessons if it’s been a while to get back in the groove.

The first line of Twelfth Night is, “If music be the food of love, play on.” It’s the food of love, but also of productivity. (Shakespeare forgot that bit.) Play on.

Recap (tl;dr):

Music is good for the brain, and therefore for improving productivity. You can play any kind of music that you like to give your brain a nice break from thinky work.

If you’re still struggling with not having enough hours in the day and your business has hit a profit plateau, we might be able to help you break through. Schedule a complimentary call to discuss here.