It’s likely that you’ve tried listening to music while studying at least once in your life. Maybe you just needed some motivation to complete that English essay, or a way to suppress the distracting noises around you.
We’re all different, and the music that your friend finds useful while studying isn't necessarily going to help you. Therefore, if you know you like studying with music, it’s important that you create a playlist that’s right for you. This requires a lot of experimentation, and sometimes, even the subject you’re studying can dictate the type of music you prefer. Additionally, some music will hinder your ability to study effectively.
Keep reading this article for on how to create the best study playlist for you!
Avoid choosing music that has lyrics
Listening to music that has lyrics has the potential to draw your attention away from your studies.
The University of Phoenix found that listening to music that contains lyrics can be distracting when engaging in reading, writing, and studying. The study discovered that it is very difficult for an individual to process musical lyrics and study simultaneously. This is otherwise known as multitasking, and research has found that multitasking can decrease your IQ by 10 points.
If you do want to listen to music with lyrics (sometimes it’s the only way to make yourself study!) keep the volume as low as possible and choose slower songs.
Keep the tempos of the music simple and slow
While studying, it is better to listen to music that is slower. You don’t want to get tempted to start a dance party! Slower music can have a more calming effect on the mind, allowing you to concentrate better. The more relaxed you are, the more efficient your study session will be.
Try instrumental tracks
Instrumental music often proves to be less distracting during study sessions since it lacks lyrics that can draw attention away from your work. However, if there’s an artist that you love, you could try listening to their instrumental tracks. The melodies will still be familiar to you, but you won’t be tempted to start a karaoke session. Be careful when you do this though, you don’t want to subconsciously fill in the lyrics yourself.
Music soundtracks are also popular to use as study music. Imagine studying to the Harry Potter soundtrack – you might feel like you’re a student at Hogwarts!
Choose classical, piano, and lo-fi music
As mentioned above, you should avoid music with lyrics as much as possible. Instead, why not try classical, piano, or Lo-fi music? This type of music is usually slower, doesn’t have lyrics, and can really get you into that flow state. Classical music is good if you like music that is more tranquil and repetitive, while Lo-fi is good if you prefer something more atmospheric.
Don’t include music by your favourite artists
We all have artists and songs that we prefer more than others. The more connected you are with a song or artist, the more distracted you will get when you listen to them. You need to stay engrossed in your studies, not the music.
Use white noise or nature sounds
If you’re finding music too distracting, why not try listening to some white noise or nature sounds? You might like to try rain sounds or the ambience of a coffee shop. This type of ‘music’ can effectively mask background noise without competing for your attention.
Create multiple playlists
The type of music that you prefer listening to might depend on the subject you’re studying. For example, when doing repetitive maths sums, playing some upbeat music might keep you more motivated, while writing an English essay may require something more toned down. Different tasks require different levels of concentration and energy.
Therefore, you should create playlists for each of your subjects, depending on your preferences.
Choose the right length
Are you someone that studies for a few hours at a stretch? Or do you break it down into smaller intervals? When creating a playlist, you should ensure that it lasts for your study duration. If your playlist starts repeating itself 30 minutes in, you’ll likely get bored and distract yourself by finding a new one.
Hopefully this article gave you some tips on creating the best playlist for your study sessions!
