Whistle While You Work: Improving Creativity
Unlocking the melody of productivity, ‘Whistle While You Work: Improving Creativity’ explores the symbiotic relationship between creative expression and professional performance in the modern workplace. Many occupations, including fishermen, miners, and wool crafters, associate singing with their work. Whistling at work speeds time, with many workplaces playing background music for increased productivity and morale. Listening to pleasant music while working not only aids in tackling tedious tasks but also enhances creativity.
Melodic Mood’s Impact
A University of Technology Sydney study examined how various music types, like happy or sad, affect the working brain. 155 participants were divided into four groups, each exposed to different music types correlating with positive or negative emotions, while performing cognitive tasks. Within these tests, the researchers were looking at creativity in both convergent and divergent aspects.
Unique solutions fostered better divergent creativity, while top solutions elevated convergent creativity scores.
Compared to just silence, those people who listened to “happy” classical music were better at divergent thinking. Classical music that fit this description seemed to help the participants engage in more flexible cognitive thinking, mainly because that type of classical music seemed to boost the arousal within the brain.
When it comes to choosing a soundtrack next time you study or work, consider an upbeat song or tune into your favorite light classical tune to boost your creativity—and pass the time!
Further Reading
Simone M. Ritter, Sam Ferguson. Happy creativity: Listening to happy music facilitates divergent thinking. PLOS ONE, 2017; 12 (9): e0182210 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182210
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