I’m jamming out right now to Hayley Kiyoko (major props). I’ve got my headphones in, my coffee at my side… I’m also on a deadline. But somehow, music makes it all good, and I’m relaxed enough to work on my article. But that raised a question: why does music help me so much? I decided to research it.
Music and Brainwaves: Does It Help?
So why does music help me so much? Is that a thing, or am I imagining it? According to the experts, it’s a thing. Dr. Masha Godkin, speaking to Northcentral University’s main blog, says “Music has the potential to take a person from the Beta brainwave state to deeper Alpha, and then Theta brainwave states, depending on the music.” Deep Patel, in an article for the Entrepreneur, says “Listening to the sounds of nature, like waves crashing or a babbling brook, has been shown to enhance cognitive function and concentration.” In other words, I now have an excuse to work on the beach.
Music and Sleep
When I worked as a substitute teacher, I served (briefly) as an assistant teacher in a Headstart classroom. I very clearly (very, VERY clearly) remember trying to put the children down for naps. We’d play classical music, in an attempt to calm them down. While they eventually would settle down, did the music help? According to the Sleep Foundation, it does. They also report it might help adults. Lullabies before bedtime aren’t just for kids. People of all ages experience improved sleep quality by listening to calming music. In a study, adults who listened to 45 minutes of music before sleep reported better sleep from the first night. Maybe I can lay off the ZZZQuil.
