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Venkata Naga Kailash Anantha

Do you listen to music while working? Does it improve your productivity or impact it negatively?

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I am a hardcore music lover and love to listen to it while working. But sometimes, I do feel like, listening to music impacts my productivity. Has anyone experienced the same? Do you have any tips to share, to me and to the community in general?
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Mujadad Naeem
It depends on the kind of task you're working on. If I am on a monotonous task where I have to review stuff from my team members or just assign things I already know, its easier and quicker. But for tasks that require concentration and critical thinking, sometimes I get carried away with music only to come and read the same thing thrice. So when I have to really concentrate on something, I can't do it with music!
Venkata Naga Kailash Anantha
@mujadad_naeem I have noticed this pattern even in my case. For more brain-intensive tasks, I try to turn off the music! Normal coding would be with music in most of the cases!
Taiwo Akintoye
@mujadad_naeem this is like describing me.
Aaron O'Leary
I tend to always listen to jazz while working, one because I love it and two because it just mellows me out, even in stressful situations, and I work my best when I'm calm.
Venkata Naga Kailash Anantha
@aaronoleary I must try jazz for sure! I have hardly listened to it in the recent past!! :)
Diana Akchurina
I do not listen, because it distracts me
Sandra Djajic
Lounge background music works well, but nothing heavy/ emotinal etc, it kinda distracts:)
Venkata Naga Kailash Anantha
@sandradjajic A big no to emotional music. Cant ponder upon the past :D
Elena Mira
It depends on the mood. Sometimes I listen to something light. but when I need to concentrate I prefer silence.
Venkata Naga Kailash Anantha
@elenat True that. Most of the times, I do listen to music.
Artyom Sviridov
Usually yes, I do. Mostly instrumental music and stuff from the 1980s.
Nhạc chuông Việt
I believe you should select the appropriate music genre for each situation. You can listen to instrumental music while working. It should help you focus more. If you enjoy Vietnamese music, check out https://nhacchuongviet.com.
Venkata Naga Kailash Anantha
@nhacchuongviet Yes.I am not sure if BGMs are considered as instrumental, but yes, meditation and instrumental musics helps us in gaining focus faster and have a better overall output !
Bohan Wang
For me, this habit has been going on for about 20 years, and there are at least two reasons for doing so: I need to maintain focused attention even in environments where I can't control the volume of surrounding noise. Even in quiet environments, due to the long-standing habit mentioned in the first point, I often play music (without headphones) to quickly get into a familiar working and listening environment. Furthermore, I've had a profound realization that when I'm in an excellent state of mind, with thoughts flowing rapidly, essentially in a state of flow, I find that the music reaching my ears is always my most favorite and pleasing. It's as if they can interpret my mental state, ready to appear perfectly at those exciting key moments, making the experience unforgettable. I have this kind of experience almost every day.
Venkata Naga Kailash Anantha
@bohan_wang1 You actually touched another important point - without headphones. I too listen to music from my laptop speakers most of the time. Make it feel better and less pain to my ears ;)
Bohan Wang
@avnkailash yes. Prolonged headphone use leading to pain is indeed an issue. However, if you find yourself static at your desk for long hours, it's essentially a precursor to the earache problem. We should take timely breaks to step out onto the balcony or in the park, take deep breaths, and contemplate questions that are further from work—such as philosophy——This practice can be beneficial for both our physical well-being and work sustainability——while also enhancing creativity through distant leaps of thought. In doing so, it has already alleviated the minor issue of ear pain.
Venkata Naga Kailash Anantha
@bohan_wang1 Spot on! I follow the Pomodoro technique a lot. Sometimes, the breaks get long for many reasons, but that is a good sign! Taking short walks at home, fetching water, and giving my brain a much-needed thinking slot are just a few I do. We are all working towards a better us, and I see a pattern across all the responses.
Lucas Haas
I love music, so I can't listen to it while working 😅 I will for sure get distracted, especially if is a song I really really like. However, listening to nature sounds help me concentrate. Raindrops is my favourite.
Venkata Naga Kailash Anantha
@bonumdesign LOL... thats a bad spot to be in :P Sometimes, changing the genre, the entire playlist will be refreshing ;)
Drew_Quinn
yes! productivity at finest
Venkata Naga Kailash Anantha
@cloodoworkspace True that!! A huge productivity push and very minimal distractions!
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