When Working on Boring Tasks, Listening to Music Helps You Focus
Have you ever heard the theory that we, as human beings should not listen to music while doing something else like studying or working because then you will get distracted and inevitably lose focus on both things. Basically the theory states that we are incapable of doing two things at a time simply because our brains just don’t work that way. However it seems that no one really heeds the advice of this theory. People still tend to study and work while listening to their music and claim that it makes it actually makes them focus more. So whats the truth?
Basically there are arguments for both sides. There are studies that claim that music makes it harder to focus and some studies say it makes it easier. However, it seems that both are true, in a sense. New studies suggest that music is both determental and helpful, it really all just depends on what exactly your other activity is. For instance, studying while listening to music is not a very good idea because the music is in fact distracting. Plus even if you do managed to work past it, your brain is wired in such a way that you are better able to recall things when the situation in which you learned them are the same. If you’re studying for a test, when you take that test you will not have th ebenifit of the same music. As such your recall will not be as good because you are now used to having the information go with the music.
However studying is very different from, lets say, and activity like chopping wood, or almost mindless sorting. In this case it is actually suggested that you listen to music because it makes you more entertained despite the boring work you are doing. As such, this this instance, the music seems to works as a means of keeping you awake and focused.
So basically everything you thought was true, might be; or it might not be. Whats your take on this. Is music a catalyst to a great work ethic or is it determental? Food for thought.
-Cassey
SOURCES
http://centermez.com/2011/11/29/4-reasons-music-helps-you-focus/
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/03/23/cb.tuned.in.at.work/index.html?iref=24hours
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/27/music-may-harm-your-studying-study-says/
http://ideas.time.com/2012/09/12/does-listening-to-music-while-working-make-you-less-productive/
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