Music as a motivating factor
“Music brings a warm glow to my vision, thawing mind and muscle from their endless wintering.”
― Haruki Murakami
Music is known to have some pretty remarkable effects, including motivating us. Music can help energize our body and minds, which can be useful if you are trying to push yourself to do or complete something. Athletes, body trainers, and people just working out often use music as a way to push themselves past their normal limits. Music can impact our sympathetic nervous system; this primes our bodies for action, usually in anticipation of a challenge. Our heartbeat quickens and our senses and psychological arousal can become sharper.
Music is able to have such impacts on our bodies because of the patterns and sounds that comprise the piece. If we listen to music that quickens in pace, we may notice that our breathing and heart rate increases. Studies have shown that our heart rate may alter to match the beat of the music we are listening to. All these factors help motivate us and help to endow our minds and bodies with energy, and the motivation to carry on.
Experiment around with different pieces of music to see which one works best for you. Everyone is different when it comes to even the types of music that will motivate us. Another factor to consider is the task you are doing. While music and motivation are most often paired with exercise and physical activity, there are so many tasks that can call for motivation that doesn’t necessarily entail exercising.
We can use music to motivate us no matter what it is we are doing. For some instrumental pieces work best, and for others, songs with lyrics will do the trick, but no matter what works best for you keep a piece of music that motivates you by your side like a close friend. The world can be challenging and unpredictable, and music can help you get through a moment or even a season of hardship.