Circumaural headphones have large pads that surround the outer ear. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In a previous column about the stress of working in an “open” office, I suggested that the popular practice of listening to music with earbuds or headphones not only cuts down on background noise but may also give employees a sense of control over their aural environment. But does having a constant soundtrack to your day also distract you from the task at hand? That depends on the task. Research shows that under some conditions, music actually improves our performance, while in other situations music makes it worse — sometimes dangerously so
Related articles
- For your listening pleasure (johnlewis.com)
- Does Listening to Music While Working Make You Less Productive? (ideas.time.com)
