Everyone has experienced that moment in time when they are going about their day, minding their own business, and a song begins to play that immediately transports them to a specific time and place. It could be a Top 40 pop hit over the radio, an old-school Rock & Roll jam playing in a store, or an obscure indie number playing softly in the background at a restaurant. Regardless, songs have the ability to elicit strong emotional responses, especially when tied to specific memories.
With the 59th Annual Grammy Awards premiering last night, it is evident that music plays a very important part in our lives… culturally, socially, emotionally, and so on. Between the touching tributes to artists who have passed, the explosive performances by acts like Bruno Mars and Adele, and the displays of emotion in the audience and award winners, music’s impact was obvious. Music is widely loved among human beings and can have very strong emotional implications. But beyond that, listening to music can actually be good for you! Read on to find out why.
The rhythm and flow of music can actually alleviate your perception of pain, especially when you are listening to songs that hold some kind of personal meaning to you! In one study, participants were able to tolerate pain for longer when they were able to listen to one of their favorite songs, and even more so when they knew the lyrics.
Listening to upbeat music while exercising motivates you to work harder and also increases the likelihood of you enjoying your workout! This could be partly due to the distracting effect of music, making it less likely for you to acknowledge the negative bodily sensations associated with exercising. Additionally, it has been reported that having relaxing and ambient music playing while you eat can contribute to a tranquil dining experience, which in turn, influences you to eat less!
Listening to classical music for 45 minutes before bedtime can have relaxing effect on your muscles, as well as distract you from your racing thoughts. When you play a slow and melodic song at night, your heartrate can actually start to synchronize with the beat of the music! This tactic has been used to treat hospital patients suffering with chronic pain and insomnia as a cheap and safe alternative to medicine.
Listening to relaxing music can also promote stress-reducing effects in the body’s biochemical processes through reducing inflammation and activating the immune system. In fact, music therapy is often used in hospitals to help patients process their fears and sadness, manage stress, and promote overall better quality of life.
As if anyone needed any more convincing, music obviously has many wonderful purposes in our lives! Have any of these music-related tips worked for you?
