New year, new study method! Contrary to popular belief, studying in complete silence isn’t actually the best way to focus and memorise study content. However, it does depend on the music and the student. There are certain sounds and genres of music which will help you better absorb information, experts call this ‘music for the mind.’
How does it work?
Studies show that not only does certain music help the student mind to ignore potential distractions, but it also helps you relax and release anxiety. Students will often feel motivated to study with the right music and will often have greater endurance during long study periods.
However, all of these benefits depend on the type of music you choose. Yes, you’ll have to press pause on that Guns ‘n’ Roses album, sadly! Soothing music is the best kind, not something that will send you to sleep though.
A lot of popular songs tend to be distracting, so if something has amazing lyrics or a great beat, save it for the road trip! Classical music works for some people, otherwise indie or alternative music are good options.
YouTube has a lot of great channels to increase brain activity for students. BiNaural beats and alpha waves are highly effective to help concentration. I can personally assure that alpha waves really work, your focus cannot be broken while you’re listening to it which definitely helps with that cram before exams!
Sounds of nature, such as light rain, have also been proven to increase memory absorption.
My go-to study playlists:
Remember:
It is important to want to study, even when listening to these tracks. Making sure you have a full bottle of water, good lighting and no immediate distractions are necessary to help your brain focus.
If you find that none of the above links work for you, perhaps try choosing a song with a steady beat, very few lyrics, and keep the volume at a reasonable level. Your brain cannot focus if it’s senses are being overloaded, which is why eating while studying is not encouraged and why loud music will have negative effects.
Headphones rather than earplugs are also better when studying, they are more effective at transferring sound waves into your ear and block out more outer sound distractions without having to increase volume.
I really hope that this helps with your study in 2019 and wish you the best of luck with finding study music that suits you!
