by Joel Blithe

Created on: March 24, 2008

Music is not only calming, but often it is absolutely necessary for reducing the stress of the work environment. I know that many may disagree with me on this point and argue that stress is simply a part of work and that I should just "suck it up" and deal with it. In regards to that perspective, I will have to respectfully disagree.

Music, in all of its forms and expressions, has the ability to change a person's mood and enhance a person's outlook on the day. For instance, many people spend their work-week in your typical soul-crushing office-cubicle environment where corporate culture rules, small talk is the only talk, everyone is out to get everyone else and most outstanding performance isn't recognized. Throw in to that mix the added pressures of deadlines, quotas, performance evaluations and sales goals, and it's easy to see how some folks could crack and 'lose it'. It seems to me that if having a little radio or another similar device on the desk can help calm the nerves, why not have it? If others in the area feel that the music might distract them, then simply use the headphones. Better yet, see if a station or type of music can be found that everyone in the area can agree on and only play that. In that circumstance, everyone can take advantage of the calming benefits of tunes with little to no negativity. It's a win/win situation.

I am not trying to suggest that it's OK for people to always have their i-Pods clipped to their belts and have those little white buds in their ears while on the job. Some occupations, even in the office environment, require that all of a person's senses be open and available. All I am suggesting, is that many types of employment require a lot of their employees, and often these jobs do not require that the employee work in a silent workspace. For such employees, music in the workplace typically does not negatively affect their job performance.

Ultimately, stressed-out employees don't perform as well as calm ones. If having music playing while on the job could help to reduce the stress, then take advantage of this relatively inexpensive audio therapy. It's a good investment and a wonderful alternative to stroke, heart-attack or breakdown.

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