Workers who listen to music during the morning commute are giving their mental health a boost, according to a new survey.
Figures released by the mental health charity Mind reveal that 74 per cent of employees listen to their favourite songs while commuting and 52 per cent report feeling energised for the day ahead as a result.
Music is shown to be a great pick me up for stressed commuters too with nearly a third of those surveyed admitting to turning to music to give them a lift when they are down about work and almost a quarter say they find listening to music on the way to the workplace relaxing.
Mind found that listening to music not only has an impact on the mood of the nation's commuters as they negotiate packed buses and trains, it is also has an impact directly in the workplace. Of those who currently enjoy listening to music at work, 36 per cent say it improves the working environment, a third say it improves morale, while a quarter say it reduces stress and workplace disagreements.
Seventy-two per cent 72 per cent people surveyed want to ‘whistle while they work' and listen to their favourite bands at their desks and 18 per cent claimed it would make them more productive. Currently, just over half of UK workplaces (52 per cent) allow their employees to listen to music once they've clocked-in.
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind said: "The therapeutic benefits of listening to music are well-known. A song which makes you feel good can be incredibly soothing and help to reduce anxiety. If you're worried about your working day ahead then listening to your favourite songs on your commute can be a great way to relax and refocus.
"When you're tackling a heavy workload, music can be a great motivator and boost productivity. It helps to eliminate distractions around you such as noisy colleagues, machinery or phones so that you can focus on the task in hand. While listening to music may not fit in with the culture of every workplace, we urge employers to be flexible in their outlook and create dialogue with their staff about their preferences."
Comments