Use Music to Make Your Mind Flow

I chose "Your Playlist Can Change Your Life" by Galina Mindlin, Don Durousseau and Joseph Cardillo. In the first two chapters of this book, I've learned about different states your brain can be in and how to alter them with music. There's 4 stages from alert to calm, but let's look at it in a more basic spectrum - alert and calm. "Imagine having made the perfect cup of coffee (perfect temperature and perfect flavor) and wanting to keep it that way - at its optimum - until you are finished drinking it" (31). Your brain is the same - just as you alter the temperature and flavor by microwaving, adding cream and more coffee, you alter your brain to be a combination of calm and focused.

Depending on the situation (normal, stressful, relaxing), you can listen to certain songs to help alter mood and mindset. Calming songs are usually gentle/slow and have good resonance (echoing, sustain of a note, etc.) whereas energizing songs are usually upbeat and fast. You can use music to help stay calm or focused.

Example I made for the thing I talked about (left). Excuse my failure to write.

To use it to your advantage, first find out what songs have what effect. For example, if you know you're about to be in a stressful situation (presentation, argument) listen to a few calming songs to comfort you, and then one song that boosts your energy to keep you determined and focused. Another tip is to listen to the different parts of the song and focus on it - that will get more parts of your brain involved and if you memorize the song, you can play it in your head when you need its effect.