As an avid Spotify user, finding playlists that fit day-to-day life can change the way you go about your day. Much like listening to music when you worked out can get you pumped, or listening to up-beat music will get everyone on their feet at a club. Music shapes the way we walk through life, and benefits us in ways we might not be able to see.

Studying is not a fun pass time for anyone, and is often avoided and resented by most. Reading long chunks of paragraphs about topics we have no interest in most of the time, highlighting important facts and putting together notes and flashcards do not sound fun and sometimes they have very little effect. It is not guaranteed that any of these methods are helpful in absorbing information and most times just results in all-nighters, re-reading information but not fully taking them in.

Many college students, including myself, find that listening to classical music is a great tool for concentration while studying and keeps you from being easily distracted. This was proven through the “Mozart effect,” a study done at the University of California where they tested the standard IQ of students who spent 10 minutes listening to Mozart compared to students who waited in silence. Through this study, they learned that music acts as a warm-up exercise for the brain and allows for information to be consumed more efficiently. This proved to be true in my own studies. When I tried studying in silence, I found my mind wandering and I would eventually have to re-read previous paragraphs to get my brain back to what I was supposed to be consuming. However, I could absorb and remember more information, from textbooks and novels, whenever I listened to classical or lo-fi music.

Spotify has great options those looking for a good playlist play in the background while studying, and they are my go-to. Simply searching “study” on Spotify will generate an array of great playlists with classical music that will maximize your studying. Especially as exam season approaches, trying new techniques to ensure focus and productivity can be vital in our success. Listening to music has proved effective in my experience as it tends to ward off my stress. Even though going to the library and having peace and quiet to focus can also help, i find the silence to send my mind running towards other things so having music quietly playing in background can keep your mind grounded on the words being absorbed. These playlists can also easily be found on YouTube if you don’t have Spotify!