3 Reasons You Should Try Studying While Listening to Music

3 Reasons You Should Try Studying While Listening to Music
If you’ve ever cranked up/ turned up the volume to start your weekend house cleaning, you know a bit
about how music can change your mood, energy level and motivation. But do you know scientifically
how music affects us? And did you know studying while listening to music comes with a host of benefits?
Abundant evidence suggests that music has a powerful impact on our physiological states, emotions, and
thought processes. If you’re a student, this is important to note. Music can truly be a lifesaver when it
comes to getting through the emotional highs and lows, and the energy ebbs and flows that accompany
educational pursuits.
So what’s the best music to listen to while studying? There’s not a simple answer, as not all music has the
same effect. Think of it as a supplement; just as different vitamins serve different functions, different
musical elements can help us in different ways. Here’s a quick guide to how music can help you function
effectively throughout your course of study.
Memory and Learning
Perhaps you’ve heard of what has popularly been coined the Mozart Effect—the idea that listening to
Mozart or other classical music enhances mental function. This has been the subject of heavy debate, and
the research surrounding it has been seriously misinterpreted in some cases. Nevertheless, there is
something to it. While listening to Mozart won’t make you an instant genius, there is evidence that
listening to any music that is personally enjoyable—be it Mozart or Madonna—can aid memory
performance and concentration while studying.
Energy and Motivation
Need a quick pick-me-up before a marathon writing session? A stimulating song or two can boost your
drive to tackle the drudgery that awaits. How? Music engages the body’s autonomic nervous system—
which in basic terms means that at some level, music can control our physiological functions and
emotions. The right music can serve as a fantastic stimulant that will quicken the pulse, accelerate
breathing, draw away attention from fatigue and boredom, and pretty much pump you up for some serious
intellectual heavy lifting.
Stress Relief
If there’s one feeling that’s universal among students of any subject, it’s stress. Thankfully, music has
been shown to be a substance-free way to decreas feelings of distress, anger and arousal that are the result
of stressful tasks (i.e. everything students do). Style of music does matter if you wish to experience these
benefits, but you still have some broad options from which to choose. Both classical music and “selfselected” relaxing music—in other words, any style that an individual considers personally comforting—

have been shown to quickly calm the body and elicit more positive emotional states. So if Beethoven
doesn’t float your boat, you can always “Sail Away” with Enya, or just clean your library for something
you belevied to be the appropriate soundtrack for a half hour of vegetating on the couch.Do you find
studying while listening to music to be helpful? Anecdotally speaking, it can be more beneficial for some
than others. But it’s an idea worth exploring when you feel like you could use a little academic
performance enhancement. Tell us what you think, and share your favorite studying playlists with our
readers!