Can Music Really Help Your Sleep Before Bed
Most of us have nodded off to a relaxing tune before, but what if you purposefully listened to music when you went to bed? Could it help you sleep?
There is evidence that suggests that music can help people fall asleep but the kind of music you choose makes a difference. Music that has a relatively slow beat may help your body hit its internal snooze button. If you rock music the chances are low that it will put you to sleep.
The music-sleep connection has been supported in studies all over the world. It works in young people and elderly men and women. Music even helps people with schizophrenia get some shut-eye. A recent meta-analysis of music-sleep studies focusing on 10 high-quality studies found that music helps people with both short-term and chronic sleep problems.
What Music Is Best?
In a typical study, people listen to relaxing tunes such as classical music for about 45 minutes before they head off to bed. Several studies have found that the music’s tempo makes a difference. As you are falling asleep, your heart rate begins to slow, and starts to move toward that 60-beats-per-minute range. In other words, slow music fine tunes your heartbeat toward the sleep zone. You can even buy CDs or download albums from Bedtime Beats set to the 60-beats-per-minute ideal.
If your not a classical music fan don’t worry because the Marconi Union song “Weightless” is allegedly the most relaxing song ever created. Some find Joni Mitchell’s “Blue Room Hotel” or Miles Davis’s “Blue in Green” to be sleep-inducing. The better choice is often music with no words. Steer clear of anything that evokes strong emotions, as well regardless of whether they’re positive or negative. A real strong influence for sleep is the sounds of storms and rain or even rain forest music as it can surround you in peaceful thoughts as you drift away into your long bed. These sounds are perfect for as you as your listen whilst in your bed whereas as mentioned before the classic music is more suited before you head into bed.
What If I Fall Asleep Listening To Music?
It’s fine to fall asleep listening to music, but don’t wear earbuds or headphones to bed. They can be uncomfortable, and if you roll over wearing earbuds, you could hurt your ear canal. Instead it might be worth investing in some Luxurary Hollowfibre filled pillows. These pillows are perfect comfort wise and if you put your music on just low enough you could fall asleep quicker than you think
Find Your Trigger Music
The key to this trick is to remember what can cause you to not sleep and what can help. Most people can think of the same things night after night that help then go to sleep. Remembering what comforts your mind is the key. Once you have established what it is then you should manage to train you brain to relax when you want.