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Is listening to music at work calming or distracting?

Results so far:

Calming
81% 778 votes Total: 964 votes
Distracting
19% 186 votes

In a typical indoors, low key, busy workplace setting, oftentimes the only sounds to be heard are of phones ringing, people chatting away, or that annoying sound of a person typing nonstop at their desk for the entire day. All these sounds can become very distracting, and can make for a stressful day's work. Is there an option to cover that annoying background noise at your office? Sure, just bring a small radio or some headphones to work from now on!

Does your job seem to wear you down and fatigue you mentally? It may not be the work causing you to feel this way, but the setting in which you are working. Music is proven to relieve and calm people who are going through any number of circumstances, ranging from separating a relationship or remembering a lost friend, to planning an exciting event such as a trip or a wedding. The inclusion of music in the workplace will provide employees with an effective distraction. I know what you're thinking, there should be no distractions on the job. I will say the presence of music is a distraction, though is also beneficial.

I am a cook at Famous Dave's, and I work with people who are good at what they do because they do it every day. It does not take long to memorize the recipe for potato salad or to learn how to properly prepare and smoke spare ribs or pork butts. In mostly all work places, the same work is being done by the same employees, day in and day out. These workers start getting a feeling of repetition and boredom at work. These are not characteristics that should define a workday, because a situation may arise where an employee stresses over the angst of his day job. Listening to music can provide a tunnel through which the bored employee may delve his slow workday. Think of music as an instant shot of excitement to the dull day of a disinterested employee.

Positive examples are everywhere; Church, schools, day care centers, casual dining restaurants. These places all include music to make the experience and purpose of each instititution more effective. Could you imagine an elementary gym instructor trying to get his young students to do a workout with no music playing? The presence of music can have profound effects on behavior. People must find inspiration, it's a quality we all seek. Music encourages tempo and rhythm and people respond very well to it's propitious voice.

I know the power of music, it is very influential on my life and the life's of many other people I know. We al enjoy different styles of music, as is the case with music itself. It's too big for just one radio station, and is celebrated by different people all over the world. Each workplace is also different with respect to the proper music which is to be included for ambiance. Kitchens are made for loud noises, loud people, and loud music. However, a nursing home would absolutely find a subtler and quieter use of music more effective. Music, when properly considered with the surroundings and personality of any workplace, can be a very beneficial tool that allows workers to break from the seemingly redundant tasks of their day jobs.

Learn more about this author, Matthew Archambault.
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Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Is listening to music at work calming or distracting?

Calming
  • 1 of 66

    by Anna Maria Ryan

    Everybody's job is hard and for the majority of people, nobody wants to be at their job. Given the choice most people would

    read more

  • 2 of 66

    by Julie A. Wein

    Listening to music at work is not only calming; it makes the day go by faster. It would be beneficial for all places of

    read more

Distracting
  • 1 of 19

    by Barb Hopkins

    I have always listened to music when I was working. Sometimes the music was piped in through the office P.A. system and

    read more

  • 2 of 19

    by Erin Smyth

    For years I thought that listening to music at work would be a definite plus. Sometimes during school classes, ones that

    read more

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