You don’t need to live off your passion for music to feel the effects! Some melodies have the gift of moving us and as the old adage says so well, “music softens morals”. This art can greatly improve our daily lives and even be a natural alternative to certain medications.
Several researches have tried to understand the effects of music on our mental well-being and physical health. Let’s discover now 9 powers of music on the body and mind. Some may seem obvious to you, while others will be more surprising.
You don’t need to live off your passion for music to feel the effects! Some melodies have the gift of moving us and as the old adage says so well, “music softens morals”. This art can greatly improve our daily lives and even be a natural alternative to certain medications.
Several researches have tried to understand the effects of music on our mental well-being and physical health. Let’s discover now 8 powers of music on the body and mind. Some may seem obvious to you, while others will be more surprising.
Music decreases stress
On a particularly stressful day, consider turning on the radio. It’s even better if you hum along to your favorite melody, even if you’re not singing in tune. Why ? Listening to music can lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone that in excess is toxic to your heart, brain and immune system. And as we know, stress is at the root of many diseases.
On the other hand, not all styles of music will bring you the same benefits. It is important to select the genre of music you enjoy. If you’re feeling anxious, mix soft, slow-tempo music with nature sounds.
For even more benefits, add to that a good massage or a moment of meditation. Focus on the music and avoid doing anything else on the side. Thus, you will be more peaceful, will benefit from a real well-being and consequently will be in the long term generally in better health. And you can finally put your anxiolytics aside!
Music improves sleep
A third of French people are one day confronted with insomnia. Music can be a great help in fighting this evil of the century. Indeed, it helps to reduce the time it takes to fall asleep while providing us with better quality sleep.
A study showed that young college students who listened to relaxing classical music for 45 minutes before bed slept significantly better than those who listened to an audiobook or those who did nothing in particular. So, from tonight try to listen to some Mozart to have a good night.
You will wake up the next day much more rested. And if you’re not into classical music, a relaxing, soothing tune without heavy percussion should probably have the same effect. After all, it is a much more pleasant alternative to sleeping pills!
Music strengthens memory
Music and memory are closely linked. Have you ever suddenly thought back to a special and important moment when you heard a particular song playing on the radio or in a store?
The nursery rhymes that we sang as children will always be engraved in our heads. Even people with Alzheimer’s disease who have difficulty remembering their own name, regain long-lost memories when they hear a few familiar notes of music (source).
Melodies are also very useful for learning. Some language teachers decide to set their lessons to music.
For their students, it then becomes easier to recall the vocabulary learned with a catchy melody. Thanks to the structure of the song, their brain can better understand, process information and memorize it. So consider putting the words to music when you study for your next English exam!
Music helps manage pain
Another unexpected effect: music can help you manage your cursed back pain! Research shows that music reduces the intensity with which we perceive pain. The song that relieves the most depends on each person, but it is obviously necessary that it is pleasant to your ears.
Music stimulates the release of dopamine and endomorphin. By acting on the brain, your favorite song can alter your perception and tolerance of pain. Perhaps your doctor will soon prescribe an hour of musical listening!
Music therapy is now considered as a pain treatment for various and varied pathologies through live or recorded music. Some hospitals are supporting this therapy as a new non-drug approach to improving the quality of life of their patients.
Music improves your athletic performance
If you’re used to running marathons, you’ll be pleased to know that music improves running performance. Researcher Marcelo Bigliassi and his colleagues did an experiment on some runners.
They noticed that those who listened to uplifting music ran the first 800 meters faster than those who ran without anything special in their ears. So when you go jogging in the park next to your house on Sunday morning, plan a good playlist to improve your skills.
Even if running is not your favorite sport, your favorite songs can help you during your intense training sessions thanks to the distracting power they have on you. Focusing on your playlist, you won’t even realize you’ve been doing more push-ups and sit-ups than usual.
Music helps you eat better
If you tend to overeat, the following lines should be of interest to you. Here is indeed an excellent tip for those who want to lose a few pounds.
Research has shown that soft background music combined with dim lighting influences eating behavior, leading people to consume less food and find it more enjoyable.
Under these conditions, they are more aware of what they are eating and really enjoy their meal; rather than quickly devouring all of their dishes.
By consuming your dinner more slowly, you will realize when you start to feel full and therefore reduce the calories you eat. A university study has shown that the type of music you listen to at the restaurant can affect your menu choice.
With slow music, you will instead opt for healthier and more balanced dishes. So, create a relaxing atmosphere at home to eat healthy and in reasonable quantities.
Music makes you more zen behind the wheel
Many of us turn on the car stereo as soon as we get into our car. Listening to music while driving on the way to work or on the way home is a more or less important part of our daily lives.
This not only helps us find the journey less long, but also improves our state of mind! This improved mood while driving can have an impact on our behavior on the road. By being more zen, you drive in a safer way for you, for your passengers and for other motorists.
So the next time your nerves are on edge and you’re feeling jittery about traffic, crank up the volume to relax and ease your mind. When you come across a driver or an unexpected event, you will be better able to keep your cool, not to make reckless gestures and to limit the risk of accidents.
Music connects us with each other
Music is a great way to connect us to each other and bring us together, regardless of our culture, origin and social background. When we listen to songs with other people, an invisible bond can come in different forms.
Toddlers are already bonding with their parents when they sing them lullabies to put them to sleep. During concerts, the group or the artist and the public are in communion. They share strong emotions and all vibrate together to the same music.
Romantic songs can bring a couple together. Sometimes we even find ourselves singing all together: prayers in a church, the national anthem in a stadium, songs engaged in demonstrations, etc. Music is far from just entertainment, this universal language can be a great way to make new friends.
Leave a Reply