A Guide: What do I listen to while I study?

The second period of exams is right around the corner which means that the study sessions we’ve been dreading will soon come into reality. If you are the type of person that needs music or some type of noise in their background whiles revising to keep them focused and entertained, then this playlist is just what you need to ace those tests and meet those deadlines.

1. White noise

If you are looking to create a calming environment whiles studying at the library or anywhere else where there might be background distractions, then study noises might be for you. Surprisingly there are many types of noises, white noise, pink noise, and brown noise. However, it is said that white and pink noise is best suited for studying. If you were wondering what the difference was, white noise has a consistent rhythm and speed while pink noise has a more varied rhythm with several drops throughout its frequency. When deep focus is required, white noise is best.

Examples of white noise are television static, fan, steady rain, or a vacuum. On the other hand, pink noise can improve creativity and bring about relaxation. This could be wind blowing or rain drops. If you just look up ‘white noise’ or ‘pink noise’ on Spotify, you can find plenty of playlists, which you can use to add to your own.

2. Immerse yourself in nature

   
   

Nature sounds are also great during periods of stress. There are studies that have proven that nature sounds have a positive psychological effect, reducing anxiety and inducing feelings of relaxation and comfort. If you’ve never used nature sounds such as a waterfall or birds chirping in a tropical forest, then you should give it a go and add it to your study playlist. You can also watch it in video form if you want that scenic background in your study space.

3. RnB or Alternative Pop

   
   

RnB and alternative pop are great for lightening up the mood. I would recommend looking for RnB songs that are on the slower end so that it isn’t too distracting. As you can see, we want something as minimally distracting but still effective in creating a serene environment to stimulate focus and alleviate stress. Some of my favourite artists that I would add to my study playlist for some change in atmosphere would be PARTYNEXTDOOR, Jhené Aiko, or The Weeknd. RnB classics are also great for a study playlist as they have a slow tempo, and you can never go wrong with some classics from the early 2000’s or 90’s. If you are not a big fan of RnB, then I would recommend adding alternative pop to your playlist instead. Alternative pop is great because similarly to RnB you can find loads of songs that have a slower tempo.

It’s a great genre to have in the background whiles being productive. I am a big Lana Del Rey fan so I would add her music to my playlist. If you are not sure what to look for, don’t worry, there is a huge array of RnB and alternative pop playlists on Spotify which you can grab from to add to yours. Spotify’s new preview future is a great way to skim through playlists by giving you a quick taste of each song. It looks like a small square that appears next to the plus button.