Listening to music whilst working?

When during the day is it best to listen to music? What type of music should I be listening to? These questions pop into my head quite frequently, so I thought I would face them head on in this post.

I've noticed that I don’t have music on now whilst I'm working. It didn’t feel like an intentional choice. I get so engrossed in what I'm doing at my desk that I forget to put any music on. Then when my wife is also working in the office she likes to have the radio on very quietly. I'm never mentally at my best when it is on, my attention gravitating towards it as the DJ starts to talk or when the hourly news comes on. I'll then move my laptop downstairs into the kitchen to continue my big thinking there, and work in silence.

I have been testing now and again to see if I can work better with some form of music on. Anything with lyrics is a distraction. I heard a great quote the other day, "When you are listening to a song with lyrics in, you are tuning in to the consciousness of the singer/writer, and not tuning into your own mind". I think that sums it up quite well. I'm escaping my mind and therefore not giving my work its best attention.

 I've been experimenting with having some Brian Eno ambient relaxing music on in the background. It's definitely less distracting than lyrical songs. However, I don’t feel as if I need it, as when I sit down to work I don’t think "Right I'm about to start work I'd better put the music on". I usually remember to do it once I'm halfway through a task. Usually when I've just come out of a flow state.

I do however like to have music on when I'm doing more tedious tasks like admin. But even then I'm now forgetting to put any music on, as I'm focussed on getting it completed as quickly as possible. Which could mean that I then create some time to sit down and just listen to a record. Thus giving it the full attention it deserves, immersing myself in it. "Listening" to the music, rather than just "hearing it."