Modern life is filled with challenges; some are easier to manage than others, but we all can certainly use external factors to get that extra motivation to complete some tasks. Although many research studies confirm that music can have a very positive effect in encouraging us to do our best, the exact causality has not been determined. What we do know, however, is the following:
Audio Patterns Stimulate Our Thought Process
You know how sometimes we come up with strong decisions to get something done to the best of our abilities? It so happens that some music features sound patterns that cause intellectual and physiological changes we can take advantage of. The Mozart Effect is an example in this regard; in the mid-1990s, researchers noticed how listening to musical pieces composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart sharpened the minds of college students before they completed logic and reasoning tasks. It should be noted that the benefits did not last more than 20 minutes, but the positive effects were remarkable.
Specific Motivational Music
The works of Mozart are not the only ones that can drive our motivation. Certain pieces by jazz legend John Coltrane have a similar effect because they have complex patterns that stimulate certain parts of our brains. Video game developers who produce titles for the Star Wars franchise inject orchestral music by John Williams at the right sections so that players can get through difficult challenges. When we hear songs such as Happy by Pharrell Williams, we know exactly the kind of mood we want to be in. If we need to get over an emotional crisis, Adele and Annie Lennox’s songs can raise our spirits even though they may feature haunting melodies. Finally, songs by the Rollins Band are explicitly written to make listeners aware that self-deprecation never works.
The Best Music for Exercising
There is a good reason why nearly all franchise gyms often play high-energy music: This is an excellent way to sync our muscles to rhythmic patterns. We hear beats, and we want to move to them even if it is subtle. Blistering songs from Helmet’s seminal Meantime album, for example, sound as heavy as the weights at the gym. Electronic dance music is better for working out on the treadmill because we want to go faster while breathing more effectively.