Match your music to the job you have got to do

Listening to music at work increases your productivity and the speed at what you work at.

A study by Mindlab International found music you choose to listen to while working should be based on what type of job you are in and it should make you work much faster and have a significant impact on your motivation.

Finding the right score
The research found that if your work involves numbers or attention to detail, you should listen to classical music. Listening to classical music improved accuracy and workers who took part in the study were better at solving mathematical problems whilst having it played. If you’re looking for classical inspiration, you should try listening to: 

Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No.7 in A Major 
Craig Armstrong – Balcony Scene 
Johann Sebastian Bach – Ave Maria

Pop until you stop      
If your work involves data entry or working to deadlines, pop music will be the most beneficial for you. Participants in the study found that data entry tasks were completed 58% faster for those listening to pop music and produced the fastest overall performance for getting work done. You should try listening to:

Zara Larsson – Lush Life 
Snakehips – All My Friends 
Foxes – Better Love 

Get the right balance   
The study found that ambient and chilled-out music leads to the highest level of accuracy for workers who have to complete tasks involving equations whilst at work. You should try listening to:

Bonobo – Circus 
Luka Sol (ft Natalie M) – Unknown 
The Last Shadow Puppets – The Element of Surprise 
         
Move your pen to the beat    
Participants listening to dance music produced more accurate results in spell-checking and proof-reading. Dance music increased speed by 20% in workers and they were more able to complete tasks quickly.

You should try listening to:
Disclosure – Holding On 
Duke Dumont – Ocean Drive 
Sonny Alven – Our Youth

Next time you see someone in your office bopping along to their music with their headphones in, don’t assume that they’re being unsociable, they’re just working much better than their colleagues.