Can Music Help You Sleep?
Anecdotally, we’ll say definitely! But what does the research say? Or is there any research on this topic?
Before we go further, Please consult a physician for any medical advice!
Contemporary British Music Composer Max Richter has created an 8 hour piece called “Sleep” that is only available on digital download – go figure.
Richter uses repeated patterns designed to mimic a sleeper’s brainwaves. They say his music is at the “intersection of classical, experimental, and ambient music styles”.
Will it help you sleep better? Quite possibly. Give it a try. We took a listen and liked it.
Can Music Keep You Awake?
Certainly. Some music just makes us feel good! We all know those special songs that may give us goosebumps or get our feet shuffling into a full blown dance.
Researchers actually injected patients with radioactive tracer after listening to a song that gave the subjects the shivers, and sure enough, their brains were flooded with dopamine. So, when we’re stimulated, it’s tough to sleep.
Is it Bad to Fall Asleep to Music?
What about falling asleep to music? How does that affect our brain and quality of sleep? One thing’s for sure, a lot of people listen to music to fall asleep.
Our brains respond to music. Our heartbeat and breath levels respond and mimic the music. If you’re playing upbeat, energetic music and trying to sleep…we’re going out on a limb here…but it could be disruptful to your sleep!
So, common sense prevailing, listening to music generally has positive effects on how we sleep.
So…What Happens to Your Brain When We Listen To Music
A lot! Wow. Who knew?
1. Happy/sad music affects how we see neutral faces:
2. Ambient noise can improve creativity
3. Our music choices can predict our personality
4. Music can significantly distract us while driving (contrary to common belief)
5. Music training can significantly improve our motor and reasoning skills
6. Classical music can improve visual attention
7. One-sided phone calls are more distracting than normal conversations
8. Music helps us exercise
If you do one thing with this post, read this article which gives details about the above points – featured on the Buffer App Blog!
Are Earbuds OK to Wear While You Sleep?
We found an article from thesleepjudge.com which did outline some of the dangers of falling asleep with earbuds in our ears.
- Necrosis of the skin-Necrosis is the death of body tissue. This can happen if the buds don’t fit well and cause pressure on the skin in the ear canal.
- Wax Build up– When wax can’t escape from the ears, it builds up and may need to be suctioned out. Along with being really gross, it is also quite unhealthy.
- Safety-When I say safety, I mean that if a smoke alarm goes off in the middle of the night and you have your earbuds in, you may not hear it, especially if they are noise cancelling earbuds.
- Death– Not likely, but if you are wearing headphones with a cord, you could end up with them wrapped around your neck which could cut off your air supply.
So yes, without a doubt, don’t use your earbuds. The little speakers on modern devices actually provide pretty good relative clarity for quiet music listening. Or use your radio, stereo, you get the idea.
What Music / Top Songs Do People Fall Asleep To?
Spotify’s Top 20 Listened to Song from Sleep Playlists
Most-Streamed Sleep Songs Globally
1. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
2. Stay With Me – Sam Smith
3. Love Me Like You Do (from Fifty Shades of Grey) – Ellie Goulding
4. I See Fire – Ed Sheeran
5. I’m Not the Only One – Sam Smith
6. Rain for Sleep – Rain Sounds
7. All of Me – John Legend
8. Earned It (from Fifty Shades of Grey) – The Weeknd
9. Let Her Go – Passenger
10. Skinny Love – Birdy
11. Say Something – A Great Big World, Christina Aguilera
12. FourFiveSeconds – Rihanna, Paul McCartney, Kanye West
13. The A Team – Ed Sheeran
14. Tenerife Sea – Ed Sheeran
15. Give Me Love – Ed Sheeran
16. Lay Me Down – Sam Smith
17. Fix You – Coldplay
18. Photograph – Ed Sheeran
19. Kiss Me – Ed Sheeran
20. Latch (Acoustic) – Sam Smith
Musical Beds or Mattresses?
Can music help sleep? It seems clear from the research that yes, the right music, can help you sleep. However be aware that music which is stimulating, can actually keep you awake.
Do we make special musical mattresses or beds? No. However, our Float Bed is perfect for avid music listeners. It’s got built in side tables, which make keeping your favourite music player nearby, easy.
What kind of mattress can you pair with our Float Bed? Any mattress will work. We will create the sleep height to your specifications.
If you’d like a lower bed, we can do that. If you prefer the sleep surface to be higher off the floor, no problem. Model 1 and Model 9 mattresses are often paired with our Float Beds.
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