Several months ago, I wrote about how one of my favorite things about working from home is that I can listen to music while I work. As of yesterday, a couple of my “standby” radio stations have turned over to exclusive holiday music. While it is a nice seasonal change, I fear I may grow quite sick of “Rock Around the Christmas Tree” by the time the holiday season is only half-way through…
I tend to prefer instrumental holiday music to work by in my home office anyway. I have several “Windham Hill” cds and other instrumental holiday collections that I work to and while it feels “festive” it does not feel like overkill in the jingle, jingle department. It seems this time of year absolutely everywhere you go has the carols and holiday music playing so it can be nice to tame things down a bit while I work.
Regardless of whether the music is coming at me from my stereo, computer or when I am out running errands–there just seems to be no way to get away from the holiday tunes this time of year. I find since they are so associated with family and fun, it can be hard to stay motivated to buckle down and get work done with a nonstop borage of perky songs–I start to wander around the house straightening decorates and get distracted with baking cookies or other holiday festive activities!
Of course it is not all good or all bad–I do enjoy the early morning hours with the instrumental tunes (especially a collection of Celtic holiday songs I have) and can get a bit done in the work department by the light of Christmas tree, but all in moderation–too much holiday music during the work day and I am doing everything but working!
Also: Ground Rules for Working From Home–Part One
Is it Already Time for Christmas Music?