Does listening to music help you study better? It depends on the person. As someone who hates studying or doing work in silence, I have to listen to music while studying. I sit down, and right away put my headphones in. I feel that I can focus better, become more productive, and block out any distractions. I get more work done while listening to music and it’s much more bearable to spend a long time studying or completing work.
Studies have been done which show numerous benefits to listening to music while studying. Listening to music can reduce anxiety, stimulate the brain, and enhance your concentration. I definitely see myself being more concentrated while listening to music and less stressed when studying for big tests. Listening to music while studying can also improve your mood and boost your motivation for studying, as well as make it more enjoyable to study.
Despite all of the positives, there are still some negatives. Listening to music while studying can reduce the capacity of the working memory, cause a distraction and reduce comprehension. Others may find music distracting and much harder to remember what they are studying.
Studies have shown that there are certain types of music that are better for each subject and assignment. When you are writing a paper or studying for a big test, you really want to try and limit listening to songs that have many words in them. If you are working on an assignment for a specific class, especially a boring one, it can sometimes be beneficial to listen to music with words or just songs that make you feel happy and less bored.
Some tips for studying while listening to music are: keep it at a moderate volume, try white or brown noise for a calming effect, limit fast songs that may take your attention off of studying.
Everyone has different tastes in music, and some may find that they study best in silence. At the end of the day, listening to music while studying is a personal preference, but I find that listening to music while studying leads to a more enjoyable and productive experience.
