Let’s be honest. Though we’re university students, motivation to study does not always come naturally. Some days we need help to get in the ‘study zone’. Cue the music!
Many university students, including myself, blast their latest and favourite ‘jam’ to get in the mood to study. Think funky beats, empowering lyrics and a bass line that even your grandma wouldn’t resist tapping her foot to!
Scientific studies prove that music can improve your motivation. Music can cause the brain to release dopamine, a chemical which works to regulate motivation and goal-oriented behaviour. Ever seen athletes with their headphones in before a race? They’re gearing themselves with determination and a frame of mind to achieve their goals.
So what are some songs that university students play to motivate themselves?
A recent callout on social media revealed a wide range of songs and genres that university students, just like you, rock out to in readying themselves to study. Interested in some new music to inspire study-like behaviour? Treat your ears to your peers’ favourite songs listed below. Songs and artists are loosely grouped in musical genres from Pop to Indie to Classical.
60s-90s
The Final Countdown // Europe
Baba O’Riley // The Who
It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll) // AC/DC
Don’t Stop Me Now // Queen
You Win Again // Bee Gees
Take On Me // a-ha
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough // Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
I Want You Back // The Jackson 5
Come and Get Your Love // Redbone
Jive Talkin’ // Bee Gees
Pop and Funk
Uptown Funk // Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
Shake It Off // Taylor Swift
Happy // Pharrell Williams
Party In The U.S.A // Miley Cyrus
Geronimo // Sheppard
Rumour Has It // Adele
Bang Bang // Jessie J feat. Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj
Indie and Rock
My Number // Foals
Run // San Cisco
Night Swimmers // Foals
Gonna Make It // Vydamo
Zoom // Last Dinosaurs
Get Happy // Megan Washington
Houdini // Foster the People
Step Out // José González
Dirty Paws // Of Monsters and Men
Electrical Storm // U2
Indie-Electro
Miracle // Kimbra
Kids // MGMT
Sleepyhead // Passion Pit
Radioactive // Imagine Dragons
Jona Vark // Gypsy and the Cat
This Head I Hold // Electric Guest
Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites // Skrillex
On Top // Flume feat. T.Shirt
Classical and Jazz
Rhapsody in Blue // George Gershwin
Prelude-Obsession // Eugène Ysaӱe
Romeo and Juliet Op. 64, Act 1: Dance of the Knights // Prokofiev
Piano Concerto in F // George Gershwin
Lord of the Rings soundtrack // Howard Shore
But why stop at one song? If you’ve hit a slump after an hour or so of study, play another track with an uplifting beat to re-energise your body and revive your brain. Some students I know treat a song as a mini workout by dancing to it with dumbbells. Others craft impromptu interpretive dance routines. As well as getting your blood pumping, moving to music is a great way to alleviate stress! Something like this can easily fit into a five-minute break if you’re using The Pomodoro Technique® to structure your study.
What’s your favourite song that motivates and gets you in the mood to study?
