3 reasons I’m taking my headphones out at work

If you’re a Millennial, chances are you’re reading this article with headphones on.

Can you do me a favor? Take them out (or turn them down).

According to a 2012 survey conducted by Harris Interactive, almost half (48 percent) of adults aged 25-29 listen to music on an iPod, MP3 player or similar device at work. Since then, services like Spotify and Rdio have taken the Internet by storm, so I’m confident that percentage is even larger.

I get it, music makes us happier! Some studies say it even makes us more productive.

But could it actually be hurting our performance at work? Here are a few of the reasons I’m choosing to nix my headphones:

• It cuts down on collaboration: One of the best parts about working in an open office environment is that you have the opportunity to bounce ideas off of one another. Working in a PR agency, we get to work on tons of fun and interesting clients every day. Just by overhearing how colleagues are handling different situations is a daily opportunity for me to learn and grow. When I’m jamming out to the latest First Listen on NPR, I miss that opportunity to hear new and different perspectives – and the chance to share and collaborate on the fly with coworkers.
• It makes you unapproachable: You might have 99 problems, but getting my attention shouldn’t be one. I would hate if a person had to yell my name five times just to get my attention for a quick question. It would make me seem unfriendly and inaccessible. If your headphones are so loud that you can’t hear someone from five feet away, turn them down.
• It lowers concentration: Have you ever tried writing an email while listening to your favorite artist? I have. When I went back to re-read the email, sans headphones, before hitting “send” I thought a third grader wrote it. And a few reports back me up. In several small Taiwanese studies, listening to music with lyrics was linked to lower concentration. The lesson here: if you’re writing an important email to a boss, client or colleague, take the headphones out.

It’s important to acknowledge that everyone is different. Some multi-taskers might work better rocking to the Rolling Stones. Either way, just keep in mind how listening to loud music can affect your relationships with coworkers.

Do you use headphones at work? Have any funny/wild stories about getting a headphone-wearing coworker’s attention? Share in the comments below!