Listening to music is a common hobby enjoyed by billions across the world. Many people use music as an escape from reality, a way to focus before an athletic event, or a way to slowly go to sleep. The best way to use music, though, is while studying.

Music has already been proven to reduce stress. The calming effect reduces heart rate and gives people the opportunity to focus on something that has to get done, while being able to listen to their favorite music.

Music gives people an opportunity to focus more than they are capable of. It activates the brain on both sides, enhancing one’s ability to focus more than without music. As academic pressure increases throughout the school year, being able to focus for long periods of time is crucial for academic success. Increased levels of anxiety and stress can be added to already difficult school work, and music is a way to avoid these feelings.

Music is an escape, but also a way to lock in on something that needs to get done. It can be a motivator for some; looking forward to listening to music instead of feeling the pressure of completing an assignment can be a great way for students to use their time more efficiently and avoid procrastination. On top of procrastination, students gain an incentive to do their homework because, instead of thinking about the piling workload, students can look forward to listening to music.

However, listening to a favorite song, although tempting, is not the type of music that should be listened to while studying. Instead, find music that is soothing and avoids lyrics. Some of these examples are classical, Lofi, and ambient music. The fast tempos and complexity of beats can cause a distraction while studying for something important where students need to retain information.

Music enhances people’s ability to concentrate. Find the best music, and keep calm while studying for a big test. Use music as a way to focus on what needs to be done instead of putting the task off.

Music is a powerful tool. It is written or performed with the intention of stirring emotion, both positive and negative, and it offers an outlet for improving mood and reducing stress. Like any tool, it isn’t always used properly and can easily become a perpetual disturbance from schoolwork. For many teenagers, music is a constant companion throughout the school halls and during worktime. To truly succeed in academics, it is important to tune out external distractions, including music, to increase the ability to focus on learning the material. 21st-century inventions like wireless headphones and music streaming services have only amplified the habit of listening to music during every task obsessively. With an increase in accessibility through online platforms, music has become even more influential to society, both in beneficial and disruptive ways.

According to a 2018 study, the time the average high school student spends listening to music every day has increased to 4.24 hours, highlighting the importance of music in their everyday routine. Especially during the formative teenage years, music taste can play a powerful role in shaping identities, forming friendships and even inspiring life-changing experiences like a road trip to see a favorite band or attending a concert that leaves a lasting emotional impact. However, despite its prevalence, music doesn’t belong in every area of the teenage experience. While it may be a source of comfort or motivation, this reality changes for studying.

Music affects studying in different ways, but the most detrimental type of music to study with is any type of music with lyrics. In 2023, a study found that instrumental music, like the classical or jazz genre, negatively affects cognitive activity and any sort of music with lyrics interferes the most. This includes many of the genres that are the most popular with teens like pop, hip-hop, country and rap. Cognitive activity disturbance includes affecting attention, memory, problem-solving and storing information, which are all major cornerstones of studying and information retention.

Building strong and reliable study habits is the key to success in school. These routines don’t just affect the high school experience; solid study practices set someone up for future success in college and in their career. So, start now. Turn the hours wasted half listening to music, half working on an important assignment, around. The outcome of a quieter work time will be a shorter, more effective study session that leaves time after for more relaxing activities, like just listening to music.