Almost all of us listens to music. We listen to it at home, while driving, while working, etc. Yet many of us doesn’t think of music as anything more than entertainment. Music is an excellent way to get the creative juices going needed for a productive day. It’s a very powerful tool, and I’m gonna talk about one of its uses in this article.
Music has been used by mankind ever since we started hitting sticks against rocks. Music accompanied ceremonies and rituals, drums and rhythms prepared warriors for battle and even today we use music for weddings and other life-changing events. With the right set of music, you can also use it to get your head in the right frame of mind, making your working day more productive.
Getting into the “zone”
Music has a strong influence on mood. Just try listening to some high-energy music while relaxing, or using ambient, chilling soundscapes to get you ready for your work-out. It just doesn’t work. This means that each music needs its place. You can use different kind of music depending on what you are working on.
If you are working on some dark, industrial, grunge-like design, then perhaps something more heavy is fitting. Designing something chill and warm? Put on something airy and melodic. Doing something futuristic? Try some electronica or techno.
The background music becomes your theme song. Each song brings out a different side of you, complementing the task ahead of you.
Staying focused
We humans react naturally to rhythm. Whenever we hear a beat, we react to it. Some snap their fingers, others tap along with their feet. Just using music can give you the energy you need to stay focused on a task.
That being said, what sort of rhythm that moves you differs from person to person. Fast and melodic works for some, while more groovy stuff works best for others. Whatever makes you want to do stuff, that’s your “focus music”. A good way to start of a project, to get you motivated, is to blast that music.
If it’s too quiet, our minds tends to wander, picking up details in the surroundings instead of focusing on the task at hand. A good, steady flow of music helps prevent that.
Even if you’re not paying attention to the music, the flow of music can induce a meditative state of mind, helping you relax and staying focused. The are no inconsistent noises in the background to disturb you, the music helps carry your mind along the way. Great services to use are lastFM or Pandora.
Worth noting is that not everyone gets distracted by silence. For some, background music can be a distraction. However, if you feel your mind wandering from time to time, don’t be afraid to try listening to music for an hour and see how it goes.
Don’t overdo it
There is a thing as too much of a good thing. There are several reasons why you should be careful and not overdo it.
- Ear fatigue
This is actually a more common problem than most people realize. But there’s one easy solution – turn off the music when your ears or head are getting tired! For most people, it’s not dangerous to tire out your ears a couple of times a week. But some people can develop tinnitus, and that is NOT something you want! - Distraction
This ties in with what I wrote earlier, but eventually, background music can become a distraction even for the most die-hard music lover. As I said, too much of a good thing. Don’t overdo it. (Did I already say that as well?) Also, when you start paying more attention to the music than what you are doing, turn it off!
Music saves lives!
Well…maybe not. But clearly, it isn’t just for entertainment. Don’t be afraid to try it out sometime, whether it be loud in the office or in your headphones.