We can agree that all of us struggle to sleep from time to time. For some, it’s more common than they’d prefer. If you’re struggling to sleep, you’ll be glad to hear that something as simple as music can have tremendous positive outcomes.
However, there are certain types of music that will work best.
We’re about to cover some of the best music that will help you experience more restful nights of sleep.
Contents
Can Music Make You Fall Asleep?
Did you know that listening to soothing music has been found to improve sleep disorder conditions?
Listening to certain types of music as you’re winding down for the day can have tremendous benefits. It can result in better sleep quantity, as well as quality, which is both equally important.
What Songs Will Help You Sleep?
When you listen to specific kinds of music, it increases the secretion of the “feel good” chemicals in the brain. Many people have theorized this is one of the main reasons as to why music can make you feel so relaxed.
Music is also powerful at reducing your heart rate, which is beneficial for helping you to feel calmer.
So, what types of music should you be listening to for better sleep?
Light Music
Light music is one of the most highly recommended types of music that can help you fall asleep.
There are a few key reasons for this.
For one, the structure of these songs is incredibly simple. Therefore, you’re not overworking your brain and trying to process the music on more complex levels. Instead, you can just listen to the simple structure of songs and relax.
The melodies of light music are also amazing. They are effective at increasing the chemicals in the brain that cause you to feel good.
These bright and simple melodies are also fantastic for creating a warm and romantic mood.
Richard Clayderman’s Piano Music
The music that Richard Clayderman plays on his piano is famously known for helping people forget about their problems.
Anxiety about different things in your life is detrimental to your health and sleep. If those are the things keeping you awake at night, try listening to this piano music by Richard Clayderman.
It helps you to push those worrisome thoughts to the side so that you can relax. As a result, you’ll be able to fall asleep quicker.
Pop Songs
It may sound counterintuitive but listening to pop songs can actually help you to fall asleep.
A lot of these pop songs tend to have a tempo that’s slower. As a result, it can cause your thoughts and heart rate to also slow down to enable you to feel more relaxed.
Choosing the right pop songs can be a little tricky as you don’t want something that’s too lively.
Serenading Music
Serenading music involves a lot of melodic instruments, such as guitars and mandolins.
The mandolins, in particular, are one of the main instruments that make serenading music so powerful for sleep. They can be played with very long notes, which results in a very relaxed sensation.
In addition to the melodies and sounds of the instruments, the lyrics are often romantic and soothing. This can be effective in helping you to let your shield down and fall into a calm state.
Nursery Rhymes
Nursery rhymes are especially effective for helping children fall asleep.
The main benefit of nursery rhymes comes from creating a bedtime ritual. Many parents are fans of lullabies as it provides an understanding between parents and children that it’s time for sleep.
However, nursery rhymes manage to be exciting, therefore, children genuinely enjoy them. Many kids can’t wait to hear their favorite nursery rhymes to fall asleep to.
Adults, on the other hand, can experience the same benefits of nursery rhymes, but in the form of mantras. You can listen to these on tapes or even record yourself saying it to play on a loop as you go to sleep.
It helps to clear your mind and forget any worries.
A great one for sleeping better is:
“I am breathing deeply and becoming calmer with each breath I take”.
How to Pick Your Own Music to Improve Sleep?
So, we’ve taken a look at the different types of music that can help you sleep. However, it’s important to remember that picking your own music for your individual needs is imperative.
If one type of music works well for one person, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it will work for you.
There are a few tips you can rely on to help you pick the right music for better sleep. One of the main ones being to pick music that fits your current mood.
Your mood can change on a very frequent basis. Therefore, if one piece of music worked great last night, your mood may call for something different tonight.
- For example, if you’re feeling agitated, selecting more melodramatic music would be the best option.
- However, if you were feeling sad, listening to emotional music would be the better choice.
This is because when the music lines up with what you’re feeling, you’re a lot more open to receiving it. You’ll notice a certain song sounds better when you’re in a specific mood. This feeling can be incredibly soothing.
Moreover, don’t listen to songs you don’t like just because they seem good for sleeping. Make sure the music you listen to while sleeping has significance. You’ll enjoy them more and be able to relax and be in the moment with the music to sleep easier.
Also Read: How much sleep do I need for my age?
Is it Bad to Sleep with Music On?
Thus far, we’ve covered the benefits of sleeping with music on, however, you may now be wondering if there are any downsides.
Provided that you’re listening to the right kinds of music (as recommended above) the actual music will only have beneficial effects.
However, the way that you listen to the music can be a cause for concern. This is the case when it comes to using earphones.
Listening to music at excessively high volumes for long periods of time with earphones can have damaging effects on your ear health.
It can also cause bacteria to accumulate in your ears, which can lead to numerous problems. So, sleeping with earphones in every night may not be the best option. Instead, play it out loud at a volume that suits you best.
Other Things to Consider for Better Sleep
Listening to music has been proven to have massive positive effects when it comes to improving your sleep quality and quantity. Although, there are likely to be other factors involved that could be inhibiting your ability to sleep properly.
It’s a good idea to be aware of these other factors because using music alone won’t be the only thing that improves your sleep.
A quiet sleep environment
One of the biggest ways to improve your sleep is to be in a dark and quiet room. When it’s dark, your body is already accustomed to falling asleep. So, to help make that process easier and faster, keep all the lights off in your bedroom.
This has also been found to support healthy levels of melatonin to be released. Melatonin is a sleep hormone that’s involved in your sleep/wake cycle. Even if you do fall asleep with a light on, it still shines through your eyelids.
This can cause the brain to become confused whether to secrete melatonin or not and as a result, your sleep is disrupted.
The quietness of your sleeping environment is a given. With less external noise going on, your brain can wind down a lot easier. Therefore, it’s also important to listen to music for sleeping at an appropriate level.
This will vary for each person, but you want to avoid having the music blaring. Set the volume at a level that’s comfortable.
A perfect sleep environment
Another factor to consider is how comfortable your bedding and mattress feel. If you find yourself waking up in the morning with aches and pains, it’s a clear indication that you need a new mattress.
This is something that will vary for everyone. Some people prefer firmer mattresses for more support, whereas others are more relaxed with softer ones that contour to their body.
- You may also interested: Our King Koil vs. Serta Mattress Comparison
Final Thoughts
If you have been struggling to find ways of sleeping better, music is overlooked, yet an incredibly powerful option.
It literally alters the chemicals in your brain to help you feel relaxed. Be sure to try out different kinds of music from the ones that we recommended above. Furthermore, don’t expect music alone to make you fall asleep quicker and deeper.
There are other factors to consider too. Once you combine the right music with the perfect sleeping environment, you’ll be able to experience more sleep at a higher quality.