Music can improve employee productivity, mood and focus

Employees looking to boost their mental health should grab their earbuds and tune into their favorite playlist.

Eighty-five percent of employees say that listening to music improved their well-being and productivity during COVID, according to a survey by Sound United, an audio brand company. Additionally, 79% of respondents said music reduces their feelings of loneliness.

As employees struggle with burnout, poor mental health and low productivity, music can be an accessible and immediate way to improve mood and focus.

“It’s clearer now than ever before that music is more than just a hobby: it’s a lifeline,” Kevin Duffy, CEO of Sound United, said in a statement. “Even just a few minutes with your favorite song or artist can make a tremendous difference.”

Read more: These songs inspire productivity and positivity at work

A quarter of employees listen to more than five hours of music per day, the survey found. Seventy percent of workers say they have a “pump up playlist” to help them prepare for the day ahead. Pop, rock and alternative music were the most popular genres for remote workers.

A study by digital radio station Scala Radio found that workers who listened to classical music on the job were 15% more productive than those who worked in silence. Additionally, an academic study titled “The neurochemistry of music” found that listening to music releases dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, a chemical that helps people connect to each other.

“The power of music is astonishing,” said Dr. Becky Spelman, a psychologist who ran the Scala Radio study. “Music stimulates the brain and we become bored less easily and stay focused. It can also help us stay calm, reduce stress and moderate our pulse.”

Employers have incorporated benefits and perks to help employees stay motivated and improve their overall well-being: 58% of employers are offering wellness benefits and 83% now have mental health support, according to data from the Society for Human Resource Management.

Read more: The 16 most popular employee perks

While those benefits support employees with stressors related to work and home life, music can be a simple fix to reset and revamp your mood during the workday, Duffy says.

“Music is universal and accessible to all, something any of us can turn to when other comforts are gone,” he says. “For anyone struggling to get through the day — whether you are an overwhelmed parent or someone looking for a job — reach for the music that makes you feel good and reminds you that better days are ahead.”