Most people listen to music because it is quite entertaining. Based on some research, music can even make you healthier. Music gives you contentment and pleasure. However, aside from this, it has a lot of psychological benefits as well. Music can help in energizing your body, relax your mind, and even helping in managing your pain.
Actually, the idea that music can help in influencing your feelings, behaviors, and thoughts may not be surprising after all. If you have been moved to tears when listening to a dramatic live performance or felt energetic in fast-paced rock songs, then you can easily recognize that the power of music can greatly affect your mood and even inspire you.
Music has extensive psychological effects. Sometimes music therapy is used in promoting emotional health. It can help in boosting your psychological well-being as well as in coping with your stress. Based on some research, your taste in music will determine the type of your personality.
Music Can Help in Relieving Your Stress
It has been known for quite some time that music can greatly help in reducing or managing stress. Meditative music is well-known for soothing the mind and encouraging relaxation. The good news is this trend is backed by research. Keep in mind that one of the most effective ways of coping with stress is listening to music.
In a 2013 study, participants were subjected to different conditions before undergoing a stressor and taking part in a psychosocial stress test. Some participants listened to relaxing music, while others listened to the sound of rippling water, while the rest did not listen to any auditory stimulation at all.
Based on the results, listening to music can likely affect your response to stress, especially the autonomic nervous system. Those participants who were listening to music recovered instantly after a stressor.
Music Can Enhance Your Cognitive Performance
When music is played while you are doing cognitive tasks, then it can help in improving your performance. According to one study, when upbeat music is played, it can help in improving the processing speed. On the other hand, both downbeat and upbeat music can be beneficial to your memory.
So, when you are working on a task, you might want to turn on a little bit of music. This can really help in boosting your mental performance. Rather than choosing complex lyrics, which can be distracting, you might want to consider listening to instrumental tracks.
Listening To Music Can Make You Eat Less
Among the psychological benefits of music, one of the unexpected ones is that it could help you in losing weight. All you have to do is dim the lights and listen to mellow music. This strategy can greatly help you in achieving your goals. Based on one study, people who listened to soft music while eating in low lights will only consume less compared to those who are eating in other restaurants.
According to researchers, lighting and music can greatly help in making the atmosphere more relaxed. Since these people feel more comfortable and relaxed, they consume their food slowly and would quickly notice that they are already full. Even if you are not eating in restaurants, you can still practice this at home by playing soft music while you are eating your dinner. By feeling more relaxed and comfortable, most likely, you will eat slowly, hence, you will feel fuller quickly.
Music Can Sharpen Your Memory
Most students would love to listen to some music while they are studying. But is this actually a good idea? Some students revealed that when they listen to their favorite music while studying, there is some improvement in their memory. While others argue that they are simply a pleasant distraction.
According to research, it might help in improving one’s memory, however, it will depend on some factors such as the person’s enjoyment of listening to that music, the kind of music, as well as if the person is musically well-trained. Based on one study, musically naive students can learn more when listening to positive music. This is most probably because these songs evoke more positive emotions and won’t distract your memory formation.
On the other hand, musically trained students who listened to neutral music showed better performance. Most probably since the music that they were listening to is less disturbing and can be easily ignored. If you feel that music can distract you, then it would be much better if you study in silence, or you can listen to some neutral music.
Another study revealed that participants who are learning a new language showed some improvement when they sing the new words and phrases rather than just speaking about them.
Listening To Music Can Make You Sleep Better
Insomnia has greatly affected a lot of people of all ages. Although there are several ways of treating this problem, based on research, one of the most effective, safest, and affordable approaches are listening to relaxing classical music. In one study, college students were made to listen to an audiobook, classical music, or nothing at all for three weeks while they are sleeping.
Researchers analyze the quality of their sleep before and after the intervention. Based on the results, they discovered that those who listened to music experienced better sleep quality compared to those participants who did not listen to anything or had listened to an audiobook.
Music Can Help in Relieving Pain
According to research, listening to music can help in managing your pain. A study conducted on fibromyalgia patients revealed that those who listened to music for at least one hour a day feel some reduction in pain than those who are in a control group. After four weeks of the study period, they found out that those who listened to music every day feel that there is a great reduction in their pain and depression. These results show that music therapy can be a significant tool for treating chronic pain.
A 2015 review of research on how music can affect pain management in patients suggests that those who listened to music prior, during, and after the operation feel less anxiety and pain compared to those patients who have not listened to music.
Although listening to music anytime was effective, researchers suggest that listening to music before the surgery can provide better results. The review assessed the information of more than 7,000 patients and discovered that music listeners only needed less medication in handling their pain. In addition, there is a slight improvement in pain management for those who were allowed to choose their own music.
Music Can Encourage Motivation
Some people find it much easier to exercise when they are listening to music. According to researchers, those who listen to fast-paced music are greatly motivated in working out harder. A particular experiment was conducted to verify this effect. It is participated by 12 healthy male students who were asked to cycle on a stationary bike at their own chosen speeds.
During the three different trials, they biked for at least 25 minutes while listening to six popular songs with varying tempos. Unknown to the participants, the researchers made some changes to the music and recorded their performance. The music was played at a normal speed, then decreased by 10 percent or increased by 10 percent.
They discovered that as they speed up the tracks, their performance also improved in terms of the speed of pedaling, the distance covered, and the power exerted. On the contrary, when the tempo of the music was slowed down, a decrease in all of these variables was observed. Hence, if you want to follow a certain workout routine, then you might consider listening to a playlist packed with fast-paced tunes for boosting your motivation. At the same time, you can enjoy your exercise regimen while listening to some music.
Music Can Lessen Symptoms of Depression
According to researchers, music therapy is an effective and safe treatment for different disorders such as depression. One study suggests that music therapy is the low risky way of reducing depression and anxiety, most especially for patients who are experiencing neurological conditions such as stroke, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. While music can greatly affect a person’s mood, the type of music you are listening to is also relevant. To extremely boost your mood, you should choose classically and meditation music. While techno and heavy metal music are inefficient and can be disturbing.
Music Can Boost Your Mood
Based on scientific evidence, music can make you feel happier. In one study about the reasons why people prefer to listen to music, researchers found out that music has a significant role in the mood and arousal of a person. Participants reveal that music can help them in achieving a better mood.
Music can entertain and inspire you, at the same time, it also offers psychological effects that boost your mood and improve your health. At Angelus Music, you can listen to sacred music. For more information about the music that we offer, you can visit us at https://www.angelusmusic.com/contact-us/.
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