6 Ways Music Calm the Mind

woman playing violin

In our stressful, workaday lives, we often turn to music to calm or even distract our minds from the problems and situations that regularly arise. Needless to say, a calm mind is not always one that is quiet and/or reflective—although we all need that feeling from time to time—but sometimes active and engaged, focused on an enjoyable task or experience rather than our everyday stressors. 

Given those parameters, below we have listed and described 6 ways in which music, directly and indirectly, calms the mind and distracts us from the stress and problems that we all occasionally face. 

Whether you’re using a Beatbuddy (https://www.singularsound.com/products/beatbuddy) or any other instrument or equipment, you’ll see more than a few benefits.

1. Music Can Help Combat Stress 

After a hectic day in which everything seems to go wrong, music can help combat our pent-up stress and allow us to unwind. In numerous studies and experiments, listening to soothing music, whether classical, soft jazz, or spiritual tunes, among other genres, has been shown to lower the level of the stress hormone cortisol—a hormone that when elevated can also lead to obesity and a slew of other stress-related illnesses. 

2. Music Releases Endorphins that Can Lead to a State of Euphoria 

Have you ever noticed that people just seem to be calmer and happier when listening to their favorite tunes? If so, the release of the brain chemicals known as endorphins may be responsible. When endorphins are released by the brain people tend to feel a sense of euphoria—a pleasant feeling that can certainly melt away the problems of the day. 

3. Music Aids Memory Recall and Reasoning

music notes

When our brains are stressed, depressed and/or cluttered, it can often be difficult to perform simple mental tasks that require any type of memory recall. Fortunately, music has proven to be very beneficial in this realm. According to what is known as the Mozart Effect, certain types of music, especially classical music, not only calm the mind but can also assist with spatial-temporal reasoning and other cognitive functions. Although there is no indication that classical music makes individuals more intelligent, it does stand to reason that a calmer mind will be better equipped to solve complex mental problems. 

4. Music Helps with Meditation 

Meditation can best be described as a practice in which individuals strive to dwell only in the present moment, without the worries of the past or anxiety of the future cluttering their mind. The calming practice, which has been used to treat pain, mental disorders, and even hypertension, can be even more effective when music is also included—soft, rhythmic and repetitive sounds that keep practitioners focused only on their breathing. 

5. Music Wards Off Anxiety 

Anxiety is defined as a “fear of the unknown,” but for those who suffer its often debilitating effects, it can be a very frightening condition. One way doctors and therapists are trying to treat irrational and situational anxiety is through music. Music is one of the best mediums for distraction. Thus, when anxiety sufferers are focused on the music—preferably music they enjoy—rather than on a potential anxiety or panic attack, these anxiety events can be drastically reduced. 

6. Music Helps Us Exercise 

One of the best ways to cope with the stress and pressure in our lives is through exercise. Experts say exercise helps calm and distract the mind. Exercise can also wear us out physically, leading to a deeper and more restorative sleep. Music helps individuals get the most out of their exercise regimen. Not only are exercisers more apt to enjoy their workout while listening to their favorite upbeat tunes, they are also likely to exercise longer and harder than they would without the musical accompaniment. 

Given its ability to soothe, inspire and motivate our minds, music is—and should be—a vital and consistent component in our daily lives, regardless of the type of music one prefers.


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