What Types Of Music Help You Fall Asleep The Easiest?

There is an uncanny similarity between children's lullaby "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and BTS' energetic K-pop hit "Dynamite"-both are the most popular songs when it comes to making people fall asleep. New research published in the journal

PLOS ONE sheds light on this unexpected trend, revealing that songs across a wide range of genres, from soothing lullabies to upbeat pop, are commonly used to aid sleep.

Music As A Sleep Aid: A Widespread Habit

While using music to help fall asleep is a well-known practice, there has been little detailed research on the specific types of music people prefer for this purpose. According to the study, previous surveys show that nearly half of people use music to aid their sleep. The researchers sought to explore the global scope of this practice by analyzing data from Spotify, a music streaming platform used in 92 countries. Spotify’s vast user base, spanning all ages, provided a unique opportunity for researchers to investigate sleep music preferences on a global scale.

What Types of Music Are Most Popular for Sleep?

To understand what music listeners turn to for rest, researchers analyzed Spotify playlists containing variations of the word "sleep" in any language. They excluded non-music content such as podcasts and nature sounds and focused on tracks from playlists with over 100 followers. After refining their selection, they analyzed 986 playlists and 130,150 unique tracks.

The results showed that ambient music was the most common type of sleep music, aligning with expectations. However, there was also a surprising prevalence of contemporary pop and indie hits. Classical and instrumental music, often touted as ideal for sleep, appeared less frequently than pop or rap.

Why Do People Choose Certain Types of Music for Sleep?

Dr Alex Dimitriu, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine expert, speaking to a leading media house suggests that even energetic or upbeat songs can help with sleep under the right conditions. According to him, the brain prefers predictable patterns, so songs that are structured and free of sudden tempo changes can promote relaxation. Familiarity with the songs also plays a role in aiding sleep, as novelty can keep the brain alert.

Other health experts have added that the emotional tone of the music, rather than its rhythm, determines whether it helps people relax. While some find upbeat music calming, others might be drawn to more soothing genres.

Is Listening To Music Before Bed A Good Idea?

Many people turn to music as a way to wind down, but how effective is it for improving sleep quality? Experts agree that music can be a powerful tool, as long as it isn’t too stimulating. "Music is great for falling asleep as long as it isn’t too exciting," said Dr Dimitriu. Music can promote a relaxed, meditative mindset, making it easier to transition into sleep.

For healthy sleep, Dimitriu recommends avoiding headphones that might need to be removed during the night or cause discomfort, using a sleep timer to automatically turn off the music, and following good sleep hygiene practices such as limiting screen time before bed and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.