Music Soothes The Savage(Sleepy) Beast
Studies have shown that listening to music while entering sleep, and during actual sleep may help you rest easier. In some cases, music has proved to be useful in helping people with short-term sleep issues and even some chronic sleep problems.
Music is known for its soothing properties, why wouldn’t it be good to fall asleep to, it helps you relax, doesn’t it? The key to music’s helpfulness is the type of music and the beat. Most studies surrounding the effect on sleep that music has have revolved around the use of music with a 60 BPM or less pulse. A theory states that as the heart begins to relax at the onset of sleep, the music provides a beat for your pulse to reach. Music with too fast of a beat could be detrimental to sleep and not helpful at all. Another requirement is for the music to not evoke an emotional response, i.e., your Ex’s Love Song/Mix Tape. Your best bet for relaxation would be Classic, Folk, and music with predictable rhythm preferably without words.
There have been studies showing the effects of music and sleep on younger children done as well. These studies show a relaxation effect in babies and helpfulness in helping them get to sleep. The downside to using music on younger children has to do with the habit of having to have music to fall asleep and the inability at times to be able to provide it. These habits are formed as triggers for the brain to seek relaxation and are hard to overcome.
Regardless of whether you listen to music as you sleep or not, a strong word of caution is necessary. Please do not wear headphones to bed. Whether in ear or over the ear, many dangers are posed by wearing earphones to bed. Cords are known strangulation dangers, and in-ear earbuds can cause damage to your ear canal.
Enjoying music while you relax and sleep can be beneficial. Science supports it, your brain appreciates it, and your sleep could be better because of it. Some excellent sources for sleep music can be found on Spotify.com, Bedtime, and many other online music sources.
About the author:
Javier is the owner of the Sleep Well, a professionally trained sleep store, specializing in specific mattresses for specific needs. He lives to give. He is an active member of his community and church. His hard work and efforts pay off for him when he can help others, and give to efforts for the betterment of others.
His spare time is spent with his beautiful wife, Gretchen. They are craft beer hobbyists who enjoy making their own beers, visiting small breweries, and making new friends. Their lives revolve around church, family, exercising, four great dogs, and keeping up with their home in Alamogordo NM.
