I've found this to be the right thing to do for several reasons. 1. Music does not improve my concentration in the long term. It will help for a few hours and

I've found this to be the right thing to do for several reasons. 1. Music does not improve my concentration in the long term. It will help for a few hours and then make it harder to focus after that. 2. Headphones make me less approachable at work, and I want to contribute to a positive team culture by being easy to chat to. If I need to buckle down I will work from home. 3. Headphones make it much more tempting to watch youtube, or listen to podcasts in the background. Without headphones I find it much easier to keep myself on track. 4. Most importantly, silence at work makes me appreciate music a whole lot more when I do listen to it, because it is no longer simply background noise, it feels worthy of attention. On top of that, I am more capable of listening to more demanding and more rewarding music.