Music has always been a powerful tool. The heartbroken listen to it for comfort, the happy listen to get even more joyful, and the sad listen to get uplifted.

However, a category of people that do not seem to need music at the core of their daily lives is students. But this is false, as proven by Cambridge University Professors Akeem Sule and Becky Inkster say that certain genres like hip-hop provide an uplifting feeling to listeners, thus, helping them cope well.

If you’re ever on a school campus, you will see many students with headphones or earphones plugged in. This is because many of them have come to the realization that music is great for their brains, and listening to classical music while studying helps with the process. Here are five benefits of listening to music while studying:

Helps with concentration

Reading is a cognitive exercise that requires our full attention because of how mentally intensive it is. To this end, we want to ensure that distractions are minimized or completely shut out as we read. This is especially for those with wandering minds or short attention spans which, whenever they open their books, think of everything else but the work before them. In situations like these, having calming sounds can serve as a form of white noise so you can entirely focus without getting distracted.

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To further prove that music aids with concentration, you’ll see that it activates both the left and right sides simultaneously if you take a brain scan. This simultaneous activation can improve learning abilities.

Eliminate boredom

Reading the exact text over and over again can seem monotonous and dull. Asides from this, it can also be counterproductive because you may not be assimilating as much. Whenever reading gets boring, one way to switch things up is with music. It is said to be a producer of the chemical dopamine, which, when released by our bodies, gives us positive effects by making us happy, relaxed and motivated. A motivated mind is one that will definitely enjoy reading.

Stimulate the brain

Spending long hours studying might not seem exciting because it can easily become monotonous. However, with the many different ways of stimulating the brain such as games, puzzles, reading etc. Playing music is a good idea because it is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to stimulate one’s brain, especially the two hemispheres.

Because music activity serves as a cognitive exercise, it has been proven that individuals who study music or have musical training early tend to have better memory and healthier brains and are less likely to have debilitating diseases like Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

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Different studies also show music allows test takers to complete more questions within an allotted time frame with more correct answers. While more recent research shows that for the cognitive abilities of one to improve, their emotional state must first change.

We know that music can change emotional states, which makes the second study hold more truth.

Improves motivation

It would be best if you had the motivation to do even basic things like waking up or starting exercising. How much more studying requires thinking? A go-to thing for students when they need a boost in energy or motivation is music. The fact that it releases dopamine is one reason it will lift you from a place of no zeal to one where everything seems colorful and easy to assimilate. When you’ve spent hours on your books, your energy will easily dwindle. Finding the right playlist is the right kind of addiction you can practice.

The brain associates musical activity as a positive activity, so you can easily trick your brain into doing homework or writing an essay while playing a tune, or you can go to a website that writes papers for you, either way, you win. This is one way to stay productive and feel good.

Lowers stress

While many students suffer from mental health problems, it doesn’t help that pressure arises at different points of university life. These pressures, if not easily controlled, can lead to breakdowns or even worse.

This is where we express our gratitude for the advent of music because books are not particularly fun, especially when you have to read for hours because there’s an exam approaching. This buildup can lead to stress and, in turn, lead to anxiety, thereby making the process of reading counterproductive.

However, listening to music can help you destress by raising the level of endorphins in your blood. This is because it has the ability to alter the mood. However, it is important to note that not all genres can change your mood, so it is essential to handpick your song choice carefully. When you do this, you’ll find working easier.

Conclusion

These five reasons are all the reasons why you should consider music as a companion during your studies. Not only does it help stimulate your cognitive skill, but there’s also a theory by Dr Gordon Shaw called the Mozart Effect. This posited that the IQ of a group of students had improved by nine points, simply by listening to Mozart’s “Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major” constantly.