Most of us love music and working to music just feels good. To help us feel even better there have been many studies about the impact of music on productivity. One study has suggested that music increases productivity when workers are engaged in repetitive tasks that may not be intellectually stimulating, while another shows that music has a positive effect on a person’s emotional state and can help with self-motivation.
Dr. Lesiuk, of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, conducted a study in which workers could listen to their music of choice for as long as they cared. She found that the people who were reasonably skilled at their jobs realized the most benefit. Workers who were identified as experts saw almost no effect on their productivity and some novices found that listening to music was distracting and did not help them accomplish the tasks (which makes sense as they were acquiring new skills).
In short, music will likely help you be more organized and productive as long as you are not making difficult decisions outside of what you are accustomed to. If you have a project you have been putting off for some time, or if your task involves repetitive work (such as sorting through clothing), turn up the volume and listen to your favorite music to get you motivated.
If your task involves complex decision-making such as sorting through very emotional items, you may want to keep your surroundings quiet, especially if the task is something you don’t usually do.
Neatly,
Jennifer Snyder, Certified Professional Organizer
Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
