Imagine you are a Cathedral student sitting in a classroom for a day. Chances are, you will see at least 10 people wearing some variation of headphones. From AirPods to AirMaxes, as well as Beats, students’ use of headphones has become more apparent these past few years. 

With new technology, these listening devices have incredible capabilities, such as noise cancellation. Students can put on their headphones, and be confined to their music without too much noise and chaos from the outside world. 

So, can listening to music when working lead to increased productivity? 

According to Harvard Business Review, “ [Music] has the potential to boost our concentration, mindset, and performance. Music can help truly center one’s mind and focus on the work at hand. 

In a collaborative scientific study published by Business News Daily, researchers linked listening to music while working to “increased productivity by 7.4%.”

Cathedral Catholic senior Emilia Salguero-Rosas has recently used music as a mode of focus. She explained how, “If I am reading something then instrumental music works best for me because it reduces my chance of procrastination.”  When asked if this music has any other benefits for her, Emilia answered by highlighting how “I also notice how music helps my mood and it makes me feel happy to listen to songs by my favorite artists.” Emilia is an advocate for music and its benefits especially when listening to her favorite genres of “Rock, Indie, and Pop.” 

The benefits of listening to music almost seem too good to be true. Many wonder, are there any downsides of listening to music while working? 

The short answer to this question is yes, there are downsides to listening to music during work time. These include creating a sense of isolation and in some cases, an added distraction. 

It truly comes down to how people utilize the tool at hand. For example, some people will only wear one Airpod, to still be able to hear what’s going on around them and stay grounded in the present. For others, this method can only lead to distraction and confusion from what is going on in the world around them. 

Furthermore, the distraction element of music comes from the type of music that the user is listening to. For example, Pop or Heavy Metal genres of music may be distracting for people as the lyrics may drive them away from their work. Whereas, simpler genres like Classical or House Music may truly improve one’s focus. 

Ultimately, music is a tool that truly depends on how a person decides to use it. It can help students study and learn material quickly. Maybe try listening to music next time you study and see if it works for you!