Listening to music can be entertaining and a source of pleasure, but scientific research has proven that the psychological benefits of music extend far beyond our listening pleasure. It is a common notion that music has a way of influencing thoughts, feelings, and emotions. An intimate ballad can move audiences to tears while a rock anthem can rile up a crowd into a fiery storm.
Music as a psychological influencer is especially powerful in the way it affects our sleep. If you are having trouble sleeping, putting on your favorite album could help you fall asleep and rest better at night. Better sleep leads to better moods and increased productivity during the day.
Music has strong psychological effects
Listening to good music can stimulate the secretion of serotonin in the body which is a hormone that promotes happiness. When listening to music, both sides of the brain, the left, and the right, are stimulated which improves cognitive capacity and creativity. This is because your creative side is active at the same time as your logical side which results in increases your problem-solving ability.
Another way music affects a person is through the stimulation of the hippocampus which is the area of the brain that stores long-term memory. That is why music can trigger happy memories from the past and also children can be lulled to sleep by songs they heard while in the womb.
Benefits of Music on Sleep and Performance
Increase sleep quality
Having a playlist of your favorite songs can help you fall asleep faster and get better rest. If you make background music part of your night routine, the positive effect is enhanced over time and you will find yourself relaxing and soothed at night once it is time for you to sleep. The presence of sleep at night can also train your body to relax and fall asleep effortlessly.
Classical music, especially those in the range of 60 to 80 beats per minute have a calming effect on the body by closely matching a normal person’s resting heart rate. This has a biological soothing effect that helps to reduce blood pressure, stress levels and encourage good sleep and well-being.
Insomnia affects all classes of people and while there are many ways of treating insomnia, medical research has proved that classical music is effective as a safe and affordable way of treating insomnia. A research study of college students asked a group of students to listen to classical music for about 45 minutes while another group listened to audiobooks at night for about three weeks. An assessment of the sleep quality of both groups showed that the music group exhibited significantly better sleep quality compared to the other group who listened to audio books. Classical music has been used in bi-aural stimulation exercises to help those suffering from insomnia to sleep.
Final thoughts
Music is capable of inspiring, motivating and entertaining. Its powerful psychological effects can also help to improve sleep, health, and overall well-being. Music is not only for your entertainment but can also be incorporated into different areas of everyday life to promote relaxation, happiness, and sleep.
