How Music Can Help You Sleep Better

Do you have trouble sleeping? Do you wake up feeling tired or even exhausted? Do you sleep fitfully through the night and aren’t sure why? These are problems that affect more people than you know and the results are very harmful. Sleep deprivation is linked to so many health problems, it’s surprising that more people don’t talk about it. There are lots of sleep aids on the market, but each of these has its own unique problems. We wanted to talk about one sleep aid that is totally non-addictive and has zero side effects: music.

Music is a universal language and can be appreciated by people of all ages, across the world. Music has the power to connect people and also help us in many ways. Music has been used in therapy and to teach children around the world and is now being touted as a way to help people sleep better. Music has the power to calm you down by lowering your heart rate and even out your breathing. It’s possible that your muscles may even relax while listening to calming music.

Studies have found that adults who listened to 45 minutes of relaxing music before they went to bed actually fell asleep faster and slept better through the night. This was also tested on young adults, who found similar results. Music directly affects the parasympathetic nervous system and helps your body prepare itself for falling asleep. This of course depends on the type of music you choose. You should listen to something relaxing, at about 60-80 bpm that you enjoy. You can find this type of quality in classic, jazz and even folk music.

Music helps so much in falling asleep, it’s no wonder we sing lullabies to babies! Though you can’t expect to see the results immediately, incorporating music into your bedtime routine is something you should consider, especially if you don’t sleep well. You can find ‘sleep’ playlists on music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, as well as on YouTube. It’s amazing how one good song can instantly change your mood, make you feel more relaxed and eventually help you sleep better!