The supposed benefit or detriment of studying while listening to music has been debated for many years. Some students find it distracting, but for others, the effect is the reverse and helps them to concentrate better. The effects of listening to music while studying do not seem to be the same for some people as for others. The only way to know for sure if it will help you or not is to try studying both ways and evaluate the results.
Music to isolate yourself and seek concentration
If you work in a noisy environment or are simply surrounded by people having conversations that interrupt your thinking, you may not be noticing or caring, but you would probably work harder and better if you had another sound in the background. You can’t turn off your ears, and even if you’re not interested in what you hear, your brain doesn’t stop registering everything that passes through your ears. To isolate yourself, music plays a fundamental role, so you can choose the type of music and try what works best for you.
Studies have shown that those who are used to listening to music while working or studying can quickly disconnect from the environment around them when necessary and thus make better use of their time. This means working faster and less likely to make mistakes. You don’t have to rush to buy college essay, just try putting on some music.
Music helps us to make routine tasks somewhat more pleasant, because it entertains the less conscious part of our mind, and integrates it into a rhythm that also helps our own pace of work to keep up and not lose momentum.
But music not only distracts us during routine work. Surgeons use music during operations to enhance an active but stress-free environment and to foster a teamwork dynamic where communication flows well.
However, if the task at hand is complex and you want to use music to isolate yourself and get into a rhythm, but need to minimize the possibility of becoming too distracted, it is important to choose the music you are already familiar with. When you listen to new songs your brain makes an extra effort to pay attention to what it hears, to understand it, and to determine whether it likes it or not. That’s why choosing songs you already know is a way to take work away from your brain.
Should you listen to music while studying?
It depends on what works for you, there are ways of studying that does not serve everyone, if placing a musical background helps you to concentrate because it works as a stimulant to your ideas and allows you to concentrate only on the task that you make, then we will proceed to choose a specific musical genre if, on the contrary, it is distracting, you start to sing and end up without being able to remember what you have read, better avoid music and opt for other options such as natural noises, in this option you. We recommend applications such as Noisli, which allow you to play sounds that work as ambiance, but maintain control over the volume, the type of sound (rain, storm, dry leaves, wind.. even the cafeteria sound is available), and the combination of these sounds.
When selecting a type of music, remember that the intention will always be that it serves as a discreet companion, that is, that it is present but not a distraction. Since music emulates certain thoughts and helps you relax, the best thing is that the type of music or sound you choose allows you to feel comfortable, that you avoid thinking about other things, and that it makes you feel good.
If studying with music works for you, follow these recommendations:
1. Avoid songs with vocals, especially if they are in your language or if you know the words. It is preferable to play movie soundtracks or classical music.
2. Control the volume. Music is used as a companion when studying alone. However, the volume mustn’t be too high, as it will end up distracting you.
3. Create a playlist. If you want to achieve true concentration, you should create a playlist of at most 2 hours before sitting down to study. Otherwise, you will have to stop to look for new songs. It is also not good for you to listen to the radio, as the commercials may distract you.
4. Vary the genres. Just as each subject has its own particularities, the genres used to study them should also be different. For subjects such as history, which requires deep reading, the most advisable is soft melodies or even sounds of nature.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.