the Real Truth about the Best Music for Creativity

​Can you imagine the thought of a day spa or art studio without music playing in the background? Or do you enter a retail store and wonder why music isn’t playing overhead? Would movies be nearly as memorable without a killer soundtrack? We have come to expect to hear music playing in certain environments. Ever wonder why that is? 

Music & Your Brain

​Music is really effective at getting you into the right mindset and evoking different feelings. That’s because music has an effect on the emotional, memory, and motor centers of the brain.
 
Without getting too technical, the right music can help you relax and let your thoughts flow from one to another. For artists and content creators, listen to the right music and it can essentially help you get into the creative thinking mode.

The “Right” Music for Creativity

So, what is the “right” music to listen to in order to boost creativity? The answer is probably something you knew all along: the “right” music is whatever music you enjoy listening to at a particular time.
​
That’s right, I said it. No need to feel guilty about not loving classical music if you’re an artist! Listen to whatever music feels good to you and studies have shown it will have the same effect of helping you relax so that your mind can wander and get into the creative problem-solving mode

​Music for Every Situation

Personally, I have very diverse tastes in music depending on the situation. And yes, as you can tell from some of the images in this post, I’m guilty of loving Heavy Metal – it’s something I was raised on and I’ll never tire of it. For me, it’s what I listen to when I need a boost of energy or if I’m feeling like I need to be more grounded. Other sounds appeal to me more when I’m doing certain tasks.
 
In my art studio, I like to listen to alternative or singer songwriters. To prevent the music from becoming a distraction, create nice long playlists (I use Spotify) that you can listen to for hours. They're terrific for focusing on the task at hand.
 
I also like the sounds of gypsy soul. It’s very upbeat and I love it for when I’m working at the computer. It really brings a higher level of sensory stimulation to an otherwise mundane setting.
 
And then there’s the type of music you’d expect for meditation or peaceful reflection – ambient. Great for those times that you really need to unwind and de-stress.
 
Finally, you  may want to have a set of upbeat songs for when you need a little extra motivation to finish a tough workout or start a task that you've been putting off.

When to Listen

Music shouldn’t just be limited to times when you’re working or working out either. Abide by the philosophy of adding music to your life every day and see what changes it makes to your health & wellbeing as well as your creativity and productivity.
 
For me, it adds a little magic if I que up one playlist on Sunday mornings when I’m making brunch and a different one to beat the drudgery of housework. Music can simply just make life more enjoyable!
 
Make your own playlists or find some pre-made for whatever mood you’re in and add a soundtrack to your own life!
 
You can even check out some of my playlists on Spotify.
 
Music for Daily Intentions: 
https://open.spotify.com/user/12127318088/playlist/04PcsTNIYblkex9WBX22EM
Studio Music
https://open.spotify.com/user/12127318088/playlist/6FuO9KY3KtRcjFrOrM1XgP
Invigorate & Create
https://open.spotify.com/user/12127318088/playlist/2xBmXznleJaV8OPGOViv8v

​I hope you found this post helpful in finding ways to use music to help you relax, feel invigorated, and start creating! Let me know if you have any interesting ways of using music to add to the magic in your life. I'd love to hear from you :-)
 
xoxo
Susan

Resources
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/24/music-creative_n_5511501.html