Music is the best therapist!
Music can make us feel good right? Actually music can do more than that. In my previous article on “Music helps to heal” I described how music can help us feel better and why music is used as a therapy. If you haven’t read that article yet, you can read it under “mental wellbeing” title. Studying is a stressful event, when you study with music in the background you can make it pleasant and reduce stress. But you have to choose the right music. In this article I am going to explain what types of music is good for the brain and productivity.
Classical music
Classical music is good for listening when studying. It can put you in the study mood according to the research studies. Classical music can relax the mind, increase concentration & focus, lessen distractions (music with lyrics can distract you). According to scientific studies, music that has a tempo of 60 beats per minute can increase the efficiency of the brain. You should play it softly in the background when you study or work. Bach, Mozart and Beethovan’ s music are popular for studying
In addition to classical music there is some music developed without lyrics by recent musicians. Marconi union’s “Weightless” has been identified by the researchers as the most relaxing music. It has been proved “Weightless” could drop participants’ anxiety by 65%. Other music that is good for relaxation is Airstream’s “Electra”, Dj Shah’s Mellomanic' etc. If you prefer music with lyrics you can try Enya’s songs for relaxation. Her music is so beautiful and divine. Imee Oii’s songs are also good for relaxation. She sings buddhist mantras and stotras with soft music. Mantra for loving kindness or metta is my favorite. You can meditate with the mantra of loving kindness as well.
Nature sounds keep your brain engaged by increasing concentration. It also helps us to get good sleep. Natural sounds like water flowing, raining can be very calming, and reduce “fight or flight” instinct in our body. “Fight or flight” is the body’s natural stress response. When a person faces a threat/ stresser our body decides whether to face it or escape it. This process triggers secretion of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. According to recent scientific studies natural sounds can physically alter the connections in our brain which leads to reduced stress response. Natural sounds and green colour are related with relaxation and wellbeing. Another important thing that has been found on these researches is that people with higher levels of stress can get the biggest benefits than people with lower stress levels.
If you choose to listen to music with lyrics it better choose inspirational songs that can motivate you. The music you listen defines what kind of person you’ll be. Therefore you need to choose your music right. it’s ok to listen according to the event like you wanna dance in a party, and you don’t want classical music there,but if you regularly listen to negative songs that evoke negative emotions like anger, jealousy,songs with poor lyrics or upbeat loudy music, or you listen to such songs when you study, you will definitely have problems with concentration, memory or elevated stress. So. choose the right kind of music.
Spirituality affects our wellbeing. I have written an article about how spiritual and religious activities can affect our wellbeing. You can find it under the spiritual wellness title. There are religious songs which appreciate the qualities of the lord buddha, appreciate the goodness and beauty of hindu gods, christmas carols etc. listening to these frequently improves your spiritual well being in addition to improves your mental wellbeing.
Here are some links to music vedios that can can soothe your soul and mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFp9qGtqrbw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw0p6tgc9rE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD0QmhxtusQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-4oSbhX7y8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFN2Wot7VSo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B54pFXQdwM8&t=48s
Someone has posted on Facebook once that “I have a therapist, and her name is Music”. Of course that’s true. Music can be the best therapist we can have. Be wise to choose the right type of music to lead a happy, healthy and successful life.