Hi readers, welcome back to Dasha’s Weekly Psych Fact! We are halfway through the semester; I hope everyone is taking mental breaks and eating well. We’ve got some rainy weather hitting us, so cozy up with some hot cocoa and enjoy the rain from the comfort of your home or dorm. Maybe while you’re listening to the rain, you can also listen to your favorite comfort playlist.
Now I don’t know about you, but I personally love music. Music has so many abilities that people don’t even consider. Only recently has music therapy become a thing and is an intervention used to promote emotional health, help patients cope with stress and boost psychological well-being.
Believe it or not, numerous studies have indicated that playing music for plants promotes faster and healthier growth. A Colorado greenhouse owner determined that plants “listening” to rock music deteriorated quickly and died within a couple of weeks, while plants thrived when exposed to classical music.
Just like plants, humans can grow spiritually while listening to music. Music can relax the mind, energize the body and even help people better manage pain. Everyone’s music taste is different and unique and I strongly believe a person’s music taste reflects their personality.
FACT: The psychological effects of music can be powerful and wide-ranging. Now, let’s dive into five psychological benefits of music according to Verywell Mind.
- Music can improve cognitive performance. If you are someone who needs music to focus or study, you are not alone. Research suggests that background music can improve performance. One study found that playing more upbeat music led to improvements in processing speed, while both upbeat and downbeat music led to benefits in memory. I’ve personally noticed that EDM and upbeat rock music help me type faster, while jazz helps me relax.
- Music can reduce stress. It has long been suggested that listening to music can help reduce or manage stress. Consider the trend centered on meditative music created to soothe the mind. Fortunately, this is one supported by research. This is why you will often hear soothing music at a yoga studio or spa.
- Music can help you sleep better. In a study looking at college students, participants listened to classical music, an audiobook or nothing at all at bedtime for three weeks. The study found that participants who had listened to classical music had significantly better sleep quality than those who had listened to the audiobook or received no intervention.
- Music can improve mood. Another science-backed benefit of music is that it just might make you happier. In one examination of the reasons why people listen to music, researchers discovered that music played an important role in mood. It can also help decrease symptoms of depression.
- Music can improve motivation. Researchers have found that listening to fast-paced music motivates people to work out harder. So if you are trying to stick to a workout routine, consider loading up a playlist filled with fast-paced tunes that will help boost your motivation and enjoyment of your exercise regimen. This doesn’t only go for working out, but also for motivating yourself daily. I listen to my favorite tunes in the morning to help me be ready to conquer the day.
All in all, music has so many awesome benefits that we don’t even realize. So, listen to some relaxing tunes in this rainy weather and then get some hype music to finish that homework you don’t want to do. You got this!