About Sleep
Sleep Related Conditions
Sleep Disorders
Experiencing stress and anxiety are normal responses when we find ourselves in distressing situations. However, for some, it can feel overwhelming which leads to disrupted sleep at night. Meditation is a method that can help to cultivate a calmer mind and reduce anxiety for better relaxation [1], [2].
If you struggle with an overactive mind or anxiety and find it hard to sleep, perhaps meditation music can be the solution for you. Keep reading to learn more about meditation music, its benefits, and what it sounds like.
What is Meditation
Meditation is commonly defined as a practice that emphasizes mind and body integration. It is often used to calm the mind and improve your physical and mental well-being.
There are many different techniques for meditation such as focusing on a particular sensation, breathwork, visual imagery, a mantra, or mindfulness. Mindfulness meditation is one of the most popular techniques that involves being aware of the present moment and observing how you feel, without judgment [3], [4].
It is often cited by people as a reason why they can relax, reduce stress, and have better sleep quality.
See also: Best Meditation Practices For Sleep and Relaxation
Examples of Meditation Music For Sleep
As there are many techniques to meditation, it sounds quite diverse. Some may include spoken voices as part of guided meditation while others may just be relaxing music that you play in the background.
Here are some examples of what meditation would sound like with different variations. From relaxing sleep music to guided imagery. Check them out now!
Benefits of Listening to Meditation Music
1. Improves your sleep quality
A study found that after six weeks of practicing mindfulness meditation, older adults with sleep problems experienced reduced symptoms of insomnia, depression, and fatigue. These results show that mindfulness-based interventions, like mindfulness meditation, can help to correct sleep problems in older adults. This ultimately leads to a higher sleep quality and quality of life [5].
2. Keeps your heart safe
According to Harvard Medical School, people who meditate are less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke or to die within five years. Meditation lowers heart rate, blood pressure, adrenaline, and the stress hormone cortisol, helping to reduce cardiovascular risk physically.
You may also like: 5 Best Meditation Apps In 2024
3. Relieves pain
Treating chronic pain is often a challenging process that can cause financial strains. Chronic pain affects up to 1.5 billion people worldwide. In the United States alone, it reportedly costs $635 billion each year on medical expenses and lost work productivity [7].
In various experiments and clinical settings, mindfulness meditation is found to have helped people manage their emotional response to pain, making it feel less distressing.
4. Relieves anxiety
Research findings suggest that mindfulness medication can provide relief for psychological stresses such as anxiety, depression, and pain.
People with anxiety often deal with unproductive worries and distracting thoughts. Mindfulness teaches you to recognize that these thoughts are just thoughts and whether you want to believe them as a reflection of who you are [8].
It is useful in helping those with generalized anxiety disorder to work on their anxiety symptoms so that they can get better sleep at night.
5. Mind and memory sharpening
According to a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, older persons with mild cognitive impairment exhibited significant gains in memory and cognitive ability after three months of basic meditation or music-listening practice [9]. Thus, showing how beneficial meditation music can be for people, regardless of age.
Conclusion
Listening to meditation music for sleep is one of the best ways to calm the mind, reduce stress and anxiety, and create a peaceful atmosphere for a good night’s sleep. Consider setting aside 40 minutes to 1 hour to listen to a guided meditation or music before bed to quieten the mind and prepare for rest.
If you still need a helping hand to relax your mind for sleep, try out ShutEye®, an all-in-one sleep app. ShutEye® offers features ranging from sleep tracking, sleep sounds to guided meditations for the best possible sleep each night. Try it now for free!
