Want to Increase Productivity?

Here’s a defense for when the boss catches you looking at cute animal pictures on the internet. Research shows looking at cute images of animals may actually improve work performance, concentration, and productivity.

A recent study reveals that web surfing for images and video footage of cute, baby animals’ not only boosts your mood, but also enhances productivity at work. Researcher Hiroshi Nittono used a group of 48 students for his study on kawaii, or the Japanese cultural trend for animal cuteness. The students were given a series of tasks comparable to the game Operation. The group was asked to complete the tasks three times after looking at pictures of different items: baby animals, adult animals, and food. Researchers observed that the group of students who were shown the cute, baby animal pictures were able to give more detailed attention and focus to their tasks. The study found that viewing these types of images “not only improves fine motor skills but also increases perceptual carefulness.”

The conclusion? Looking at dog and cat pics on the internet may, in fact, improve your ability to focus on tasks during the day.

Just in case you need an excuse to visit our Facebook page for adorable animal images, videos, and articles!

Source:

Nittoni H, Fukushima M, Yano A, Moriya H. The power of kawaii: viewing cute images promotes a careful behavior and narrows attentional focus. PLoS ONE. 2012 Sept 26; 7(9): e46362.