If you are looking for an easy, enjoyable way to boost your mental health, the answer might already be in your headphones.
A new study says listening to music every day can seriously improve how you feel, and there is even a recommended daily dose. According to the British Academy of Sound Therapy, the magic number is 78 minutes of music per day to help maintain good mental health.
That might sound oddly specific, but the idea is simple. Different types of music support different emotional needs, and mixing them together creates the biggest benefit.
The study breaks those 78 minutes into categories.
- To start, about 14 minutes of uplifting music can help boost happiness and put you in a better mood. Think songs that instantly make you smile or sing along, even if you are a little off-key.
- Next comes 16 minutes of calming music to help you relax. This is the stuff you might play while winding down, commuting, or trying to shut your brain off after a long day.
- Another 16 minutes should be whatever music helps you work through sadness. That could be emotional songs, comfort tracks, or anything that helps you process feelings instead of bottling them up.
- You also need 15 minutes of motivating music to help with focus and concentration. This is your productivity soundtrack, the kind of music that makes you feel like you can take on your to-do list without screaming into a pillow.
- Finally, there are 17 minutes of music chosen specifically to help manage anger, whether that means aggressive songs you can vent to or calmer tracks that help you cool off.
The good news is you do not have to hit all 78 minutes every single day to see benefits. Researchers say listening to just 11 minutes of music a day can still have therapeutic effects. And if you are really short on time, even five minutes of music can boost your happiness.
That makes this one of the most realistic wellness recommendations ever. No gym membership, no meal prep, no complicated routine. Just press play. Whether it is in the car, while cooking, or during a quick break at work, those minutes add up.
So if anyone asks why you are always listening to music, you now have a scientific excuse. You are not procrastinating. You are maintaining your mental health. And according to the experts, that playlist is basically self-care.