Listening to music for 78 minutes a day can improve mental health

Turns out crying to Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well’ on your morning commute may actually be doing wonders for your mental health. A new study, commissioned by streaming service Deezer, has determined that we should be listening to at least 78 minutes of music per day as part of a healthy lifestyle.

The study, which was conducted by the British Academy Of Sound Therapy, studied the music consumption habits of 7,500 people. It focused on the way that music affected the subjects physical and mental wellbeing. The research concludes that we should consume music that spans five different moods — uplifting, relaxing, sad, and ‘anger management.’ They’ve even broken it down into allocated time spots, which you can look at below.

• 14 minutes of “uplifting” music to feel happy.
• 16 minutes of “calming” music to feel relaxed.
• 16 minutes of whatever you choose to overcome sadness.
• 15 minutes of “motivating” music to aid concentration.
• 17 minutes of whatever you choose to help manage your anger.

The study claims that it takes an average of eleven minutes to feel the benefits of music, and five minutes to feel happier. Honestly, the cathartic last chorus that hits during the 5:00 mark of ‘All Too Well’ simply elicits the most jubilant feelings so I have to agree.

Listen: Taylor Swift – ‘All Too Well’

“There are certain properties of music that affect the mind and body. Dedicating time each day to listen to music that triggers different emotions can have a hugely beneficial impact on our well-being,” shares Lyz Cooper, of the British Academy of Sound Therapy. “Listening to happy songs increases blood flow to areas of the brain associated with reward, and decreases flow to the amygdala, the part of the brain associated with fear.”

In the spirit of perfectly executed marketing campaigns, Deezer has put together a series of playlists to accommodate to each of the five moods — you can find them here.

In related news, back in August, a study was conducted that revealed that heavy metal is good for your mental health. Read more about how you can headbang your blues away here. 

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