A positive frame of mind can decrease productivity

A recent study has found that happy thoughts can stimulate creativity, but for mundane work such as plowing through databases, being cranky or sad can work better.  Stress, anxiety and a bad mood can focus our attention only on what is directly in front of us.  High levels of well being can broaden our thinking and make us more creative.  The research was undertaken by Psychologist Adam Anderson of the University of Toronto who asked 24 university students to take two kinds of test after listening to sad, happy or neutral music.

 In one test, students had to think of unusual words, so testing the breadth of their thinking, in a second test they had to ignore everything except the middle letter in a series of 3 which measured their ability to focus.   In this test, if they had listened to happy music they were 40% more likely to be distracted than if they had listened to said music.

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