Blog: Myths of Mice, Music and Work.

It's completely silent. You can hear the patter of tiny feet as a mouse runs out, just to point at the clock above your desk and laugh at you while enjoying his Cheesy Souffle at 10a.m. You'd love to ignore the spectacle, but there's nothing else but your glaring computer screen and a sad little pen and paper that chain you to your desk at work. It would be really nice if you could play music, but your boss insists that the only music allowed is classical, and you want to hear Beethoven again almost as much as you want to go to the dentist.

The most important part of listening to music is the variety. It doesn't matter if it's Mozart or not, what matters is that the music doesn't contribute to the noise. Noise is the sound of construction going on outside your window or that lovely copier going off outside your cubicle. Noise is the music at the store you work at when you're in the back.

Speaking of stores, let's focus on retail. Aside from a few exceptions, your most popular retailers tend to play pop and classical rock music. That's because it's the most popular and the easiest to focus on shopping while listening. You shop there because it's comfortable and you like the music they play. So why not play that at your own work?

The repetition is a big thing. I may love the Beatles, but I don't want to hear "Love Me Do" playing fifty times while I'm at work. Retailers with shorter play lists tend to struggle from time to time as well because shoppers are hearing the same exact thing over and over.

A popular study that has been held as the social norm for years points towards better productivity at work while playing classical music. The study states that listening to the works of Mozart will actually boost everything you do. Sadly, this is an inaccurate study from the perspective of "Just Mozart." Mozart doesn't effect everyone the same way. You have to find your own niche, your own music that pushes your productivity. I don't recommend listening to heavy metal, as it creates "too much noise" according to professional researchers on the matter. But kick back, listen to music that you like but don't love, and I'll bet your day gets so much better real fast.

As for the mouse with the cheese souffle, give him a thumbs up next time while you're eating your own. Then make sure he leaves.