Is Listening To Music Mindful? Practicing Mindfulness Through Music
Everyday stress has a way of wreaking havoc on our lives, but listening to music allows us to escape. It can help us deal with anxious thoughts, tense relationships, or physical exhaustion. You may already have daily mindfulness practices in place, but maybe you’re looking for something new. Can you listen to music in a way that’s mindful?
You can practice mindfulness when listening to music anytime just by actively listening. Active or mindful listening is concentrating, understanding, and responding to what you hear. Playing music in the background alone is not enough to be mindful.
Do you want to listen to music in a way that aligns with your mindfulness practices? In this article, we’ll tell you exactly how to do it. If you’re looking for a path to mindfulness that doesn’t involve yoga or meditation, then you definitely want to read on.
Is Listening to Music Mindful?
Listening to music can be mindful provided you are actively listening. Having music playing in the background as you go about day-to-day tasks is not enough to listen mindfully.
We touched on this in the intro, but part of what makes enjoying music a mindful activity is active listening. This requires the listener to concentrate above all else. They also have to understand and respond to what they hear.
As we’ve covered before, mindfulness is something you always have with you. You can find small ways to make your life more mindful daily. Mindfulness is not about having a completely empty mind, though. It’s about noticing whatever is present with you, thoughts and all.
If you’re finding your mindfulness journey challenging, adding music can be beneficial. That’s because music can help you stay focused. You can also connect to music, using it as a source of creative energy and strength. Mindful listening can even resync you with your breath and body to reduce stress.
Traditional mindfulness meditation is not necessarily for everyone. Mindful music listening can act as a great substitute for a meditation session. Setting aside five minutes a day to listen to music can be as effective as meditation if you really focus. You may even find you enjoy this more than meditating or yoga.
What Kind of Music Should You Listen to for Mindfulness?
Any type of music can be used for an active listening session. Before you begin, it’s important to think about the kind of music you enjoy. Consider what you listen to, whether on a regular basis or even rarely. Then ask yourself which songs will relax you, energize you, or move you in some significant way.
Think about what you may hear in your vicinity as well. Music is all around you throughout every day. It can be pop hits playing in the supermarket, a busker on a subway platform, or even the jingle of an ice cream truck.
Next, take a moment to think about your relationship with music. Is it a source of joy or frustration in your life? Are you someone who has a lot of songs stored in your phone but you never seem to listen to them? Is music something that can soothe you when nothing else can? Even if you listen to music all the time, do you hear it on a deep level?
Practicing mindfulness through listening to music can help you learn more about yourself. Long-forgotten memories can resurface, or you may make new discoveries about your personality. Using music you love for your mindfulness practice can reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. It’s all in the melody, harmony, and rhythm of your favorite tunes. It’s almost like they have a certain healing power. Giving these elements your full attention can increase these benefits.
Five Steps to Active Listening
Active listening is an effective tool to help you to slow down and be in the present moment. This is true whether you listen to music every day or less often. Here are five steps to active listening that you can use for effective practice:
1. Select a piece of music to listen to. The music you choose is up to you. You can tune into an instrumental piece if you so choose. By selecting a song with lyrics, you can add an extra layer to the experience. The music can be very familiar to you or something you’ve never heard before. The next time you try this exercise, choose the opposite of whatever you did before. Take mental notes of anything that feels different during the experience.
2. No matter where you are, take a moment to ground yourself and breathe. Breathe in through your nose, then out through your mouth. Tune in to how your body is feeling as you do this. Notice whether you’re standing, walking, sitting, or lying down. Assess anything physical your body is touching. This can be your shoes, the couch, or the floor. Notice any physical sensations you’re feeling as well, such as tension or tightness in your body.
3. Listen, and only listen. Shut out any external noise by using headphones or earbuds. Allow yourself to listen to the music and nothing else. Don’t refresh your social media feed or check your email. Close your eyes if you feel it will help you. If you find focusing to be a challenge, it’s most likely because you need a break from outside distractions. Clearing your mind at the start of your practice with something like the Ancient Brain Reset Method may help.
4. Notice the small details around you. Allow yourself to be alert and aware without self-criticism or judgment. Take in the pacing of the music, any shifts in volume, and the sounds of the different instruments. As you listen, ask yourself if you’re more aware of certain parts of your body. Note the feelings or thoughts that come up. The music may have a connection to your memories. There could be anxious thoughts trying to surface as well. Let these things pass through your awareness. Then bring yourself back to the music and the moment.
5. Reflect on your experience. As the music ends, check in with your breath, body, and mind for a moment. Ask yourself if anything feels different. Did you feel any shifts in your mood as you listened to the music? Do you feel calmer, or perhaps more tense? If the song you chose didn’t suit you, ask yourself what you might look for in another piece. Does it need to be a slower pace? Would something with fewer instruments be more effective? Do you prefer something louder to drown out excess noise?
Experimenting with different genres of music can trigger different physical and emotional responses. However, repeating the same musical selection can act as a touchstone. This will allow you to reconnect to a state of mind where mindfulness can come more easily.
The Benefits of Mindful Listening
One of the principles of mindfulness is to center your attention on whatever task is at hand. This teaches you to recognize and be aware of all the subtle details the activity entails.
Music allows you to recognize these details in different ways. You can center your attention on subtle changes in rhythm. You can pay attention to different layers of sound as well as the raising and lowering of pitch.
That’s just one benefit of many. Let’s take a look now at the other benefits of mindful music listening.
- Cultivating a Deeper Experience with the Music You Already Love
Everyone has their favorite bands and songs. In life, we don’t always get the opportunity to listen to this music and rediscover why we like it to begin with.
Active listening lets you gain a greater appreciation for the music you already love. It may even bring back the relaxing or exciting feelings from when you first heard it. You may hear little details and nuances in the music you hadn’t before once you listen to it more actively.
2. Opening Doors to New Musical Artists and Genres
Sometimes you can get stuck in something of a musical rut. Knowing the kinds of sounds that make you tick can help you search for new music that suits your taste. You might just find your new favorite band or artist!
3. Relieving Anxiety and Stress
The final benefit is less stress and anxiety. Practicing mindfulness can put you in touch with the moment and wash away your worries. If you’ve had a long day, set yourself time aside for one song. Focus your mind completely on the music for its duration. This can transform your listening experience into a more meditative one.
Conclusion
Choosing one song a day for mindful listening can aide you in your mindfulness journey. You can use the same song every day to center yourself if you’d prefer. You can also take advantage of this opportunity and discover a new band or artist.
Mindfulness is a gift we can give ourselves every day of our busy lives. It helps us to slow down and be fully present in each moment. Using music for mindfulness practice can be a powerful tool to experience the moment. Happy listening!
