Music serves more as a way of bringing people together. It also enriches the soul and encourages creativity. But not many are aware of the mental and physical health benefits it brings. It’s for this reason that music therapy has become a widely accepted way of treating conditions ranging from depression to chronic pain. We are set to gain a lot more if we listen to the right type of music. Put on your earphones and browse Spotify as we look into the top health benefits of listening to music.
1. Gives a concentration boost
Whether you are an office worker or a student studying for a major exam, you can never go wrong with listening to your favorite tracks as a way to focus better. Aside from drowning out the noise that’s around you, listening to music also helps subdue our unconscious attention system. According to an article from The Guardian, music can help the brain to focus less on our unconscious thoughts and more on the tasks that we need to do. Remember not to max out the volume when driving a vehicle.
2. Makes you feel less lonely
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Discover Your FREE Personalized Moon Reading NowIf you’re living alone for the first time, music can keep you company in your loneliest moments. If you feel homesick or depressed in the first few weeks of moving in, listen to your favorite artist or any song you associate with comfort and security. In an experimental listening study, music can also serve as a social surrogate and provide a sense of connection. This is also true if you have lost a close friend. As a personal experience, listening to music can help reduce feelings of loneliness and allow you to recover emotionally.
3. Improves communication and language learning
Not much has been written about the relationship between music and the ability to communicate effectively, but Ireland’s National Council for Special Education points out that music can be used to improve communication development in children with speech problems. Aside from that, music can help with language learning because both music and language processing takes place in the same area of the brain. This allows a language learner to understand how the language is structured.
4. Helps seniors cope with Alzheimer’s disease
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Discover Your FREE Personalized Moon Reading NowElders with memory problems such as Alzheimer’s disease can alleviate their condition by listening to their favorite songs. Despite having a limited capacity to remember past events, seniors can still recognize the tune and the lyrics of a classic song. If you’re taking care of an elder at home, give them some time to play their favorite singers or bands. If they are wearing hearing aids in one ear, let them wear two, so they can get the most out of the listening experience.
5. Alleviates stress and keeps you calm
Your choice of music can help keep you grounded even as you face difficult challenges ahead. Countless studies have pointed out the benefits of music in dealing with stressful situations. That’s because listening to our favorite tracks triggers dopamine production and lowers cortisol levels. If you want to develop a strategy for managing stress, make music your go-to solution for immediate relief.
Like good sleep and exercise, music can help stimulate the mind and body surprisingly. Turn it into a daily habit and see where the experience will take you!
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