Will Music Help You Fall Asleep Explained
There are numerous benefits of listening to music before bed. Some people find that it helps them fall asleep quicker, while others use it as a way to relax and de-stress before bed. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss the benefits of music for sleep, how it can improve your slumber, and the different ways you can listen to music before bed. So if you’re looking for ways to get a better night’s sleep, read on!
How Music Affects Your Body
It is no secret that a good night’s sleep is essential for our overall health and wellbeing. Sleep allows our bodies to rest and repair, and our brains to consolidate memories and process information. A lack of sleep can lead to a whole host of problems, including fatigue, irritability, poorer mental focus and concentration, and even depression.
Breathing and heart rate
These are two important functions that are regulated by our autonomic nervous system. This is the part of the nervous system that controls all the involuntary functions of the body, such as digestion, urination, and blood pressure. Research has shown that music can help to slow down both our breathing and heart rate, which in turn can lead to a more relaxed state and a better night’s sleep.
One study found that participants who listened to 45 minutes of relaxing music before bedtime had significantly lowered blood pressure and heart rate, and took longer to reach the deepest stages of sleep, compared to those who did not listen to music.
Muscle Tension and Pain Relief
Another common reason people listen to music before bed is to help relieve muscle tension and pain. After a long day of work, your muscles can often feel tight and uncomfortable. Listening to music can help to relax your muscles, as well as reduce any pain you may be feeling.
One study found that people who listened to music for 30 minutes before bedtime had less muscle tension and pain, and felt more relaxed, compared to those who did not listen to music.
Serotonin And Oxytocin Release
Music can also help to release the feel-good hormones serotonin and oxytocin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in regulating our mood, sleep, and appetite. Oxytocin is often referred to as the “cuddle hormone” or the “love hormone”, as it is released when we hug someone or bond with a loved one.
Both of these hormones can help to improve our mood and make us feel more relaxed, which can, in turn, lead to a better night’s sleep.
One study shows that participants who listened to 30 minutes of music before going to sleep had higher levels of oxytocin and serotonin, and felt more relaxed, compared to those who did not listen to music. However, it depends on the kind of music you are listening to.
Reduce Levels Of Cortisol
Cortisol is a stress hormone that is released in response to stress or anxiety. High levels of cortisol can lead to feelings of anxiousness and nervousness, which can make it difficult to fall asleep.
Listening to relaxing music before bedtime can help to reduce levels of cortisol, and promote a more relaxed state.
Benefits Of Music For Your Sleep
Now that we know how music can help you sleep, especially this one – www.music-for-sleep.net, let’s take a look at some benefits of listening to music before bed.
Increase The Quality of Sleep
One of the benefits of listening to music before bed is that it can help to increase the quality of your sleep. This means you will spend more time in the deep, restorative stages of sleep, and less time in the lighter stages.
It also improves how fast you get asleep (check the above information for some facts related to this effect).
A study of elderly people found that those who listened to 30 minutes of classical music before bedtime fell asleep quicker, and slept for longer, compared to those who did not listen to music.
Mood Increase
We all know that the quality of our sleep is very related to our mood. That way, the benefits of music for sleep also include improvement of our mood. By improving our mood, we have higher levels of productivity, focus, and concentration. With that being said, you must know it’s related to the hormones that we described above.
Pain Treatment
We talked about how music can help to relieve muscle tension and pain. However, it can also help to treat other types of pain, such as headaches, arthritis, and menstrual cramps. The best effect music has on chronic pain was seen in a study of people with fibromyalgia.
What Music You Should Listen To Before Going To Sleep
Now that we know how music can help you sleep, let’s take a look at what type of music is best to listen to before bed.
Slow-paced and relaxing music is ideal for sleep, as it can help to slow down your breathing and heart rate. This type of music is also less likely to contain lyrics that can keep you awake.
Some examples of slow-paced and relaxing music include:
- classical music
- jazz
- folk music
- ambient music.
If you’re not sure where to start, there are many online radio stations and streaming services that offer calm and relaxing music specifically for sleep.
You can also find plenty of sleep-friendly playlists on YouTube and Spotify.
However, to fall asleep, it’s quite important to pay attention to your surroundings. Make sure your room is dark, quiet, and cool to create the ideal environment for sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, try using a white noise machine to block out any external noise.
Conclusion
Music has a big variety of benefits for your sleep (not all of them, however, are described in this article). It can help you to fall asleep quicker, sleep for longer, and improve the quality of your sleep. Listening to music before bed can also help to relieve pain, reduce levels of cortisol, and increase serotonin and oxytocin levels.
When choosing music to listen to before bed, it’s important to pick something slow-paced and relaxing. You can find plenty of sleep-friendly music online, or create your playlist.
We hope our article will bring some quality to your sleep! Don’t forget to check our blog posts daily.
