In this time of worldwide pandemic – where homeworking has become the norm – we have to adapt to our new work environment: our ‘home office’. Whether this is a neatly organized library, a desk in a bedroom or simply your kitchen table, it is just not the same as “the office” we are/we were used to. This creates new challenges and opportunities, for everyone who is able to work from home. At home we can feel more relaxed because of the familiar environment – or more stressed, because work-related problems now enter our homes.
To feel more relaxed, or perhaps to boost your concentration, you might play some music during working hours. Maybe you forget to turn of the radio after breakfast, maybe you’re trying to soften the sound of your screaming children, or maybe you just want some noise in the background. But does music really have benefits regarding our work? Does it improve our performance, or do we just like to think so? In this article by Zaria Gorvett form the BBC, some of the latest scientific thinking is summarized regarding the pros and cons of listening to music while you work.