Listening to music while walking offers many benefits to our body and mind. Studies show that if we listen to music while doing any physical activity then we experience greater endurance, increased heart rate, release more endorphins (feel good hormones) that relieve pain, increase muscle mass, and help us burn calories faster.
Improves Mood
Listening to music has been shown to have a positive effect on mood. We tend to walk at a slower pace when we are happy and move at a faster pace when we are sad or bored. If we enjoy what we are doing, it helps us stay focused and motivated to do our best.
Better Balance
When we get out of breath, we naturally slow down our pace in order to catch our breath. When we listen to music, we don’t feel the need for slowing down. While listening to music, we maintain a steady pace without stopping to rest. This makes it easier to keep our balance while walking.
Increase Endurance
If we exercise for long periods of time, it is important to take breaks and recover. Listening to music helps us remember to stop and relax. It prevents us from getting over-exerted, tired, and sore.
Relieves Anxiety and Stress
When we are anxious or stressed, our breathing becomes rapid. In order to calm ourselves down, we breathe more slowly. Listening to music while exercising increases our breathing, which in turn calms us down.
Increases Muscle Mass
Studies show that when we exercise and listen to music, our muscles work harder than when we just listen to the music alone. Because our muscles work harder, they become stronger and bigger.
Burn Calories
Music is often associated with dancing, which burns calories. There are several studies that indicate people who dance regularly lose weight because they burn more calories than normal. Listening to music when working out might make us want to dance, which not only burns calories but keeps us feeling good about ourselves.
Better mood and exercise
When we listen to music at low volumes, it helps us enjoy our surroundings more. That means we will feel more motivated to walk and get out there and move around! If you’re feeling down or lazy, put on some tunes and kick it into high gear.
Improved focus and concentration
Music often sounds repetitive, especially if there are lots of beats going on. While this can help you zone out and block things out, it’s actually good when learning something new, especially if you need to concentrate. To maximize the power of music on your brain, find the right beat and listen to it over and over again until you understand what the song is about.
Higher heart rate
We all know how relaxing it feels when we take a brisk walk with the wind blowing in our hair. Music can do the same thing even faster than physical activity – it raises our heart rates. This is great for getting rid of stress and staying sane. And, if you’re walking somewhere you don’t normally go? You may find yourself wanting to explore new places.
More productive
If you’ve ever had trouble focusing on a task, try putting on some headphones and blasting your favorite playlist. Listening to music when working helps keep your mind focused on the task at hand, instead of thinking about anything else. Your productivity should increase without having to resort to caffeine boosts.
Great workout
I know I already mentioned music helping you work out, but here’s the best way to make sure you really get a workout out of your stroll. Make your own playlist that consists solely of songs that have been scientifically proven to burn calories. Bonus points if they’re from your genre of choice!
More fun
Who doesn’t love to dance? Don’t just stick to any old slow music though, choose upbeat songs that make you want to move. Why not pick up your favorite pair of sneakers and shake your tailfeathers to the rhythm?
Cheaper workout
Finally, music might seem like a luxury item, but sometimes it’s just cheaper to use than paying for gym memberships or buying expensive equipment. There are plenty of free apps that let you create playlists and listen to them anywhere you go. Plus, who needs fancy tracks anyway? Just turn on the radio and crank up the volume.
What time of day should you exercise?
Benefits of listening to music
Music Makes You Happy
Music makes us happy! When we listen to our favorite songs, the mood elevates, and we start feeling good. In addition to making us feel happier, we enjoy hearing certain types of music. For example, we tend to like slow and romantic music. We also notice that some songs make us smile while others make us sad.
Music Relaxes Your Body
We know that music relaxes us, but what about our bodies? Research shows that we have different parts of the body associated with particular kinds of music. For instance, research shows that “soft” classical music tends to stimulate the brain, whereas upbeat musical styles tend to activate the heart and chest area. So if you want to reduce muscle tension, play soft classical music. If you need to calm down after an upsetting experience, try listening to upbeat tunes.
Music Is Good For Concentration
When you’re studying for a test, or working on a project, listening to music helps you focus on the task at hand. Studies show that students who listened to music while taking tests were able to recall information they had learned better than their peers who weren’t exposed to music. Researchers believe that music activates certain parts of the brain involved in learning. Listening to music, especially when you work hard at something, may help you pay attention to details.
Music Helps You Sleep
You likely spend many hours each day sleeping. That’s why it’s important to get enough rest. But there are ways you can improve your quality of sleep without using pharmaceutical drugs, including listening to music. Scientific studies suggest that music affects our brains’ electrical activity just before we fall asleep. By playing relaxing songs, you may find yourself falling asleep faster. Afterward, you’ll wake refreshed and ready to take on the day.
Music Improves Memory
Listening to music increases blood flow to the brain, which means it helps keep your memory sharp. Studies have shown that people who listened to music performed better on cognitive tasks than those who didn’t. And researchers say that listening to music can even boost IQ scores–not only among musicians, but also non-musicians.
