If you're listening to at least 78 minutes of music per day, congratulations! Science says you're helping yourself maintain a healthy lifestyle.
A new study from Deezer (and truncated by Kerrang!) reveals listening to music that covers feeling uplifting, relaxing, sad, motivating, and angry for at least 78 minutes per day is helpful. The study looked at a cohort of 7,500 people and how listening to music affected their day. The breakdown looked like this for optimal listening:
- 14 minutes of uplifting music (user’s choice) to feel happy (18% of your musical RDA)
- 16 minutes of calming music (user’s choice) to feel relaxed (20.5% of your music RDA)
- 16 minutes of music (user’s choice) to overcome sadness (20.5% of your music RDA)
- 15 minutes of motivating music (user’s choice) to aid concentration (19% of your music RDA)
- 17 minutes of music (user’s choice) to help manage anger (22% of your music RDA)
Lyz Cooper of the British Academy of Sound Therapy backed up Deezer's study.
"There are certain properties of music that affect the mind and body. Dedicating time each day to listen to music that triggers different emotions can have a hugely beneficial impact on our well-being. Listening to happy songs increases blood flow to areas of the brain associated with reward, and decreases flow to the amygdala, the part of the brain associated with fear."
So sure, get some Suffocation in for the angry bits, but maybe jam Babymetal or something too. Y'know, for your health.
