January 2025

In a 2023 time use survey, the Office for National Statistics reported that UK adults spend an average of 1 hour 7 minutes eating and 46 minutes making food and drink daily. While these figures differ significantly between countries – from just over an hour in the USA to more than 2 hours in France […]

Imagine the scene, it’s 8am on a very cold fresh Scandinavian morning and 23 elite biathlon athletes line up at the start, their skis beautifully waxed and their small bore rifles prepped ready for action. This is an important race, the outcome will contribute to determining a place in the national squad. One of the

We all know that severe dehydration can be life threatening, but did you know that even mild dehydration – as little as a 1–2% reduction of body mass due to water loss – can affect cognitive performance? Studies have shown that dehydration can lead to decreased concentration, short-term memory deficits, impaired mood, and increased perception

In our earlier post, The Soundtrack to Success: Part 1, we explored how an understanding of the science of music can help businesses create an environment that fosters focus, reduces stress, and boosts employee satisfaction. For those in leadership positions, we made some general recommendations for building music into the workplace so as to promote

In the 1940s, Ford Motor Company introduced music into their factories as a way to enhance worker productivity and morale. The company was facing the challenge of maintaining high levels of output during World War II, and they sought innovative ways to keep workers motivated and focused during long shifts. Ford began playing music over

Meetings are an example of the futility of the popular misconception that 10,000 hours repeatedly doing something leads to expert performance. If you added up the amount of time people have attended meetings at work, the number would exceed 10,000 in just a few short years. And yet, many people are fed up with unproductive

We have previously shown (see Part 1 and Part 2) how music can be a useful tool to drive performance. (The strains of Bach’s Goldberg variations are currently playing in the background. It’s blocking out the noise of distant traffic.) Whilst listening to music can be delightful, for some, music is a hindrance not a