How Music Could Change a College Student's Life
College can be an overwhelming experience for numerous people. Students who have successfully managed their stress throughout their lives prior might have difficulty finding a way to cope while in college. Most students feel overwhelmed balancing school, work, and other activities. However, listening to music can be an effective way to relieve this stress. Studies have shown that music can significantly benefit the brain and mental health of young adults. I’ve compiled several reasons why college students should start incorporating music into their daily lives.
Reduce
Stress
Whether it’s
finals week or the night before an important paper is due, college students frequently experience stress. One way to combat these emotions is through music. Research done by the University of Maryland Medical Center shows that listening to music
is a highly effective stress reducer due to the fact that it combats common symptoms of stress. It decreases blood pressure, heart rate,
and anxiety levels. So, the next time you’re studying for an exam, put on your
favorite song and ease your worries.
Activate the Brain
Research shows that music is one of the only two ways that all parts of the brain are activated simultaneously. The stronger these systems are, the easier it is to remember and connect concepts. By activating so many systems, the brain can network information to different structures that are necessary for cognitive function and learning. Music is a great way to strengthen parts of your brain that you need for memorization. Inevitably, students will better memorize vocabulary and diagrams when listening to music while studying.
Increase Concentration
Our brains release the chemical dopamine every time we hear music. This chemical is meant to make us feel happy, relaxed, and motivated. Additionally, certain songs contain beats called binaural beats that align with the brain waves' frequency. The brain tries to mimic these beats and while doing so, creates a state of high focus in the brain. These conditions are optimal for studying and going about your day. By listening to music, students not only focus on the task they’re about to accomplish, but subconsciously motivate themselves.
Improve Mood
and Emotion
Think about your favorite childhood song. You likely associate it with positive memories from that time period. No matter what mood you’re currently in, thinking about this song can improve your emotional state. The brain releases large amounts of dopamine when we listen to our favorite songs, which in effect can change our emotions when heard. Since dopamine is named the "feel-good hormone", high amounts of this chemical in the body will ultimately make you feel happier. To release this substance and improve your mood, try listening to the songs you love.
What are your
thoughts?
Do you
listen to music when you study? If so, do you think it improves your quality of
studying? What other ways does music impact your daily life?
Learn
more here:
The
Benefits of Studying with Music - Florida National University (fnu.edu)
Why
is music good for the brain? - Harvard Health
How
Does Music Affect the Learning Process of Students? - Substream Magazine
I resonate with a lot of the points you made. I feel that I work better when listening to music. I try to listen to music without lyrics if I'm reading, and I listen to music with lyrics if I'm doing math. I never considered the idea that the type of music I'm listening to could also activate certain parts of my brain and help me learn more efficiently. Thank you for opening my eyes to that possibility. I also agree with your point that music helps improve mood. It always feels easier to study when there is music in the background. Great blog Olivia!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Afam! I also find myself listening to music without lyrics when I'm reading or studying for certain classes. Sometimes if I listen to music with lyrics I get distracted and pay more attention to the song instead of my work. However, with the right music I too find it much easier to study. Thanks for your response!
DeleteHi Olivia!
ReplyDeleteGreat job with choosing a topic that most of your audience can relate to. As I'm sitting in Hillman getting some homework done, I see that many people have earbuds in or are wearing headphones. Because of this, I believe many college students can benefit from reading this blog post. Overall, I really liked the structure of your blog. It was very clear and concise and the pictures helped separate the sections well.
I listen to music when I'm doing homework, but mostly to cancel out the noise around me. However, after reading your blog, I can see there there are a lot of benefits that I was not aware of. For example, I do find myself being in a more productive and happy mood while doing work with music versus without music. That wasn't something I realized until I read your blog. I also realized that music correlates with memories which also explains being happy while studying and listening to music.
Thanks for your response, Vy! I too see so many students around campus with headphones, especially in Hillman. I also like to listen to music to cancel out the noise around me when I'm studying in a public setting. I find it easier to concentrate this way. I'm glad to hear that music helps boost your mood when you're doing work, because it's so easy to feel stressed in college.
DeleteHi Olivia!
ReplyDeleteI feel strongly about this topic, and I'm glad you addressed it. When I'm listening to music, I am able to fully focus on the task at hand. I feel like the music is blocking out any distracting thoughts. It also reduces stress because instead of worrying about my assignment, my brain is simply focused on the task at hand and processing the music. I didn't know it actually activated the brain, that was very validating. I use music to improve my mood all the time. Whenever I'm feeling unhappy, I play a song that reminds me of a time when I was happy. It always does the trick. This was a really insightful blog post and I'm glad you shared it!
Hi Elsa! I completely agree with you that music blocks out my distracting thoughts when doing work. If my mind starts to wander I feel like music keeps it on track, especially when I'm studying. It's also a great strategy to put on a song that makes you happy when you're having a bad day or are upset. I do the same thing when I'm feeling this way. I'm glad you enjoyed the post!
DeleteI really enjoy this topic because music is a big part of my life. I listen to music when I do homework, and even just walking around. Listening to music when working out is also motivating. I think listening to music when studying does help, but it could also be distracting. If a song I really enjoy comes on, I might focus on the lyrics more than the task at hand. Music also impacts my life by bringing back old memories and reducing stress. Do you think that listening to music helps you concentrate? I like the set up of this blog post and the use of images as well. Great job Olivia!
ReplyDeleteHi Ava! Thank you for your response! I agree that music is a big part of my life as well, I feel like I'm always listening to it. I enjoy listening to music when walking around campus and working out, too! However, I completely understand how music can be distracting when trying to do work. I try to find songs that are more calming or have less lyrics so I can stay focused. I think music helps me concentrate when listening to the right kind of music.
DeleteHi Oliva,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your blog post. I feel like this is a topic that resonates with a lot of college students. Whenever you walk around campus everyone has earbuds in, myself included. I never really understood the full effect that music can have on the brain and it was cool to see. The photo that you included with the different parts of the brain being activated while listening to music was neat. I always have music playing in the background of whatever I am doing, whether that be studying, cooking, or just walking around. It was nice to see the science behind my actions.
Hi Imogene! I'm glad you enjoyed the post! It seems like everyone walking around campus has headphones in, and prior I didn't fully understand the science of it either. I too like to put on music when doing the same activities, it puts me in a better mood when I do.
DeleteHi Olivia! It was really interesting to learn about the scientific research illustrating the numerous cognitive benefits of listening to music, and I greatly appreciated the attached links. In addition, discovering the depth of brain activation while listening to music was very enlightening. I definitely have experienced the concentration-inducing and stress-relieving effects of listening to music, but sometimes, I feel like it can cloud my thoughts when I am studying. While trying to construct an argument or attempting to evaluate my knowledge, music with strong base or catchy lyrics can distract me from the task at hand. Notwithstanding, music plays an integral part in my daily relaxation. Do you listen to music while you study? If so, do you have any music suggestions that might distract me less during intense contemplation?
ReplyDeleteHi Will! I'm glad you liked that part of the blog! I completely agree with you that certain songs make it hard for me to study when listening to them. If I'm listening to one of my favorite songs, I find myself focusing more on the song than on my work. I recommend listening to R&B music, I find it really calming and easy to study with when I have it in the background.
DeleteHey Olivia, I really enjoyed your blog post because you chose a fascinating topic that I've looked into as well. Music can give you a sense of familiarity and comfort when you need to escape stress and it is easy to see how many people agree. I especially enjoyed the graphic you posted where it shows the activation of the brain, as I didn't know that before. What are your favorite artists to listen to?
ReplyDeleteHi Lucas! I previously didn't know how much music can do for the brain and I agree that it can give me a sense of comfort. Whenever I'm stressed I enjoy listening to some of my favorite songs to put me in a better mood. I really like to listen to Drake, J. Cole, and SZA, what about you?
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