We listen to music because we get entertained by the sound and melody and perhaps even relate to the lyrics. It can be a source of pleasure and contentment. But, did you know that listening to music is good for mental health as well? Music can be a form of therapy or intervention that can be utilized to promote emotional and mental health. It has many psychological benefits and Laval psychologists can attest to this.
Music Can Reduce Stress
Listening to music can be an effective way to cope with stress, especially meditative music which induces relaxation and soothes the mind. Music has an impact on our human stress response which means that people who listen to music after dealing with a stressor tend to recover more quickly than those who don’t.
Music Can Improve Cognitive Performance
If you like having some background music while you are focused on another activity, you tend to have an improved performance on your cognitive tasks. Playing upbeat music can improve processing speed, while playing both upbeat and downbeat can lead to benefits in memory. That is why some people prefer listening to music while also studying for a test.
Music Can Help Manage Pain
Music can have a beneficial effect on pain management and those people who listen to music before, during, or after a surgery tend to experience less pain and anxiety than those who don’t. There was even a study among fibromyalgia patients which showed that those who listened to music for at least an hour a day experienced a significant reduction in pain.
Music Can Help You Eat Less
People who are trying to lose weight can use music as a helpful weight loss tool. This may may be surprising, but this is supported by a study which showed that people who ate in restaurants with soft music played in the background consumed less food than those who ate in other restaurants. It was probably because of the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere which made the diners eat their food more slowly. Because of that, they had also been more aware when they began to feel full.
Music Can Help You Sleep Better
Listening to music, especially classical music, can be a safe, effective, and affordable remedy for insomnia and other common sleeping disorders. Research showed that people who listened to music prior to sleeping had significantly better sleep quality than those who did not.
Music Can Improve Your Mood
Music plays an important role in boosting excitement and mood. People who are trying to boost their mood often listen to positive music. The impact may or may not immediately be felt.
Music Can Motivate You
There is a reason why people find it easier to exercise when listening to upbeat and fast-paced music. Music actually motivates people to work out harder. Aside from the motivation, listening to music while exercising or doing other physical activities makes people enjoy their activities more.
Music Can Help Reduce Depression
Music has an impact on our mood and that is why it can also be used as a safe and effective therapy for people with a variety of mental disorders, including depression. However, it is important to note that the type of music is also essential. Classical and meditation music are the best since they have great mood-boosting benefits while heavy metal and techno music are usually ineffective and can even be detrimental.
Listening to music definitely has a lot of benefits, aside from having the power to inspire and entertain. Make it a habit to listen to good music to enjoy its psychological effects that can make you feel relaxed, happy and motivated.
Clare Louise 
Paul Petersen