Everyone’s all, “Let’s listen to holiday music,” but we know you’re still cranking that Study Jams Vol. 2 playlist until the semester is over.
Before you can put on your Santa hat and indulge in Mariah’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” you need to buckle down and find a few tunes to help you get through studying for finals stress-free, so take a dose of chill and treat your ears to our top 5.
Marconi Union – Weightless
The most relaxing song, ever. No really. A study by Dr. David Lewis-Hodgson from Mindlab International called this “The Most Relaxing Song.” In the study, 40 women participants were given puzzles and a set time to finish them, with this jam keeping participants the most relaxed. Get in on the Zen, here.
Coldplay
Coldplay is no stranger to mellow and rhythmic sounds that induce relaxation. In the study mentioned above, their song “Strawberry Swing” came in at number five on the list. You can listen to the track here, and to boost your relaxation, find the full list of relaxing jams from the study here.
The Mozart Effect
So, this isn’t really one song, but you can pick any one from this list and be set. A popular theory that suggests listening to classical music can make both babies and adults smarter and improve mental focus on tasks. Former Georgia governor Zell Miller had so much faith in this theory he proposed a budget that would give every baby born in Georgia a classical music CD — a measure eventually approved in 1998. We can’t retroactively give you a classical music CD, so here’s a playlist that Governor Miller would definitely find worthy.
Nature Sounds
Again, not a song, but hear us out: research has proven that listening to nature sounds while working leads to better productivity and calming effects. If you haven’t given good ole Mother Nature a try, here is an 11-hour video of pure ocean waves to soothe your day.
ASMR
Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) isn’t just another fun acronym to memorize — it consists of sounds and triggers that cause tingling sensations throughout the body and cause a relaxation effect. Some videos feature brushing sounds, nail tapping, gentle whispering and the crinkles of plastic. Now, this may sound a little weird to some, but we guarantee it’s worth a listen. Here’s a taste of what ASMR is all about.
By Catty Galan & Jessica Navarro