Should you listen to music while you study?
As with most things in science, it depends.
First, if you’re going to study with music, choose songs that lack vocals.
Vocals are often distracting and much more likely to have a detrimental effect on your
studying.
Beyond that, choose instrumental music that you enjoy.
Contrary to popular belief, there’s no evidence that classical music is superior for studying.
Second, experiment with different study scenarios.
During college, I quickly determined that listening to music while reading was more
distracting for me than studying in silence.
When it came to cranking through chemistry or physics practice problems, however, music
made the experience more enjoyable.
Experiment for yourself and find what works best for you.
Third, try using music as a boost.
From personal experience, I believe that music has helped me study for longer periods of
time.
I often start working in silence, and as I feel myself getting bored or my mind wandering,
I’ll put on some instrumental music I enjoy.
With this newfound burst in energy and positive vibes, I’m able to marathon my studying
for much longer.
If you need some new music to study to, check out the Med School Insiders Newsletter where
we send out weekly study song recommendations - link in the description.