Music for thought

Music can help improve your mood along with many of its other benefits.

For many, music is a way of expression but it can also be an escape from reality, many teens listen to music throughout the day, and can often be seen with AirPods in. Teachers tend to not like AirPods as they can distract from the class and make a student unfocused as well as contribute to the lack of work they get done. 

But what are some benefits of music? How can they help a person’s physical and mental health? Music can elevate a person’s mood, by decreasing feelings of stress and anxiety while releasing the hormone dopamine which can boost happiness and also increase the brain’s productivity. Music is also directly connected to the amygdala which is in control of a person’s mood and emotions. Music can serve as a temporary distraction from the outside world. Studies have also shown that people who listened to music compared to those who didn’t were able to lower their blood pressure as well as recover faster from stress. Music can also add connections between the right and left sides of the brain which can improve brain development.

Along with connections in the brain, it can improve connections with others. Music can connect people by bringing them together with a mutual interest. Music has been known to lighten people’s moods all around and with the number of genres out there people are sure to find someone with a shared music interest type.

As for the physical part, music can make you more motivated during things like workouts. You’re more willing to push yourself. Music also helps with productivity when doing tasks like homework or chores. Music can help with remembering information on tests as certain words can have correlations. A study done on patients with dementia showed that those given 10 weeks of the same music had the music memorized after those weeks. When working out, upbeat tunes can cause the body to work harder and the body uses oxygen more efficiently than without music. Music can increase creativity and spark imagination in the mind. Music can help you concentrate more on the task at hand making sure that your brain stays on the task at hand. Sleep quality can also help be improved by music by allowing the brain to sleep when listening to certain types of music. 

Music can be used in movies to set a tone or to describe what is happening without saying anything. Music is also not just for humans, animals can benefit from music as they can enjoy and reap the same benefits as we do. Music can bring people together and is connected with happy feelings. Overall music has hundreds of positive benefits and the pros outweigh the cons. It has been helping humans for years and listening to music may improve your life without you even realizing it. So next time you’re stressed try listening to music to improve your mood.