To be precise, the question, “Should you listen to music while studying?” has no clear one-word answer. While I have seen many of my friends put on over-the-ear headphones before opening their books and laptops. On the other hand, another group frown at even the sound of vehicles passing by the hostels if they are indulged in some kind of problem-solving.
Thanks to the massive and quiet library of LPU which not only provides more than enough books for the students to read, but also comes to the rescue of those who dislike everything from whispers to sonic booms while studying.
Music can have both positive and negative effects on studying, the intensity of which majorly depends on the type, and the personality of the student. In general, music imparts a lot of benefits:
- Music improves mood, and some even bring in peace of mind.
- Some kinds even act as motivators.
- It plays a massive role in improving memory and controlling brain stimulation.
- Lastly, music has also been found to create psychological impacts that help in managing pain and fatigue.
Till now, one might start to think that the answer to the question asked in the title is shifting towards a “Yes.”
Even the Mozart Effect, developed in the early 1990s, stated that listening to classical music makes people smarter. However, decades of further research transformed the Mozart Effect into Mozart Myth as conclusive studies from data throughout the world showed no clear evidence that music made the listeners smarter and more intelligent.
Sigh! It would be amazing if we could just listen to music and chill on our way to become more intelligent.
Benefits of Listening to Music while Studying
- It makes us feel motivated. We all have several songs with powerful lyrics in our playlist that force us to push our limits whenever they are played in loops. When you are behind your syllabus and have only a few nights to grind before the tests, what’s better than something motivational?
- Researchers have concluded that soft background music may improve the focus of the listeners, a must for long study sessions.
- Although it varies, the majority of the students who participated in the research stated that music helps them with creativity. Researchers believe that it is due to the improved mood, which indirectly boosts memory formation in the listeners.
Drawbacks of Listening to Music while Studying
- Listening to loud and vocal music while memorizing can take more than the required time, leading to wastage and reduced time management.
- In some cases, we attach memory with a song, and if it is in the playlist, it can distract us and make us lost in our thoughts.
- Loud and agitated music also makes us less efficient, which may even be the case with lyrical music or electronic music.
Although we cannot pinpoint a single reason why you should or shouldn’t listen to music while studying, you can do a small assessment for yourself to find out.
As per the general axiom, if music boosts your mood and concentration, is preferably in mid-volume and includes no or little lyrics, and you are doing some creative stuff, you should put on some music. Of course, if it isn’t disturbing your partners or fellow students.
