I spend approximately six hours per week using my music app, at least according to my screen time. My Apple Music stores several collections that tell the story of my personality, my emotions, and my life.
These are my playlists.
Since I started my account in middle school, I have listened to, created, and edited multiple playlists that I listen to daily. As my ever-changing creations continue to grow, I begin to understand more and more how they shape my mindset and emotional well-being. The music you choose is not just background noise; it can be a powerful tool that steers your mood, perspective, and actions.
Music can have a profound influence on people’s socio-emotional development and well-being, as it helps shape personal and cultural identity, supports mood regulation, and even aids in stress reduction, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Music can greatly improve brain health for people of all ages and varying health conditions, according to a study published in 2020 by the Global Council on Brain Health. We have the ability to manipulate this profound influence with a click of a button.
Yet, music that can amplify negative feelings is still a top choice for listeners. Rumination, or going over the same thoughts in your mind repeatedly, can occur when someone listens to sad music, which can worsen their mood, according to a blog written in 2023 by music therapist Roger Botello from Manning Family Children’s Hospital. Occasionally listening to sad music can feel therapeutic and be enjoyable, however it is important to understand how it can have a worsening effect on one’s mental health if overused or used at a vulnerable time.
Understanding the emotional impact of music cannot only help you to monitor your feelings, like when you are sad, but it can also be a tool to influence your actions. I personally have experimented with this and found success with improving my productivty.
For example, when I came to high school and began to have long, difficult, and stressful study sessions I tried listening to instrumental jazz music while studying. I found that this helped me become better at studying. I kept my anxiety a lot lower and my concentration high because of jazz’s calming and consistent melodies.
On Sundays, when I prepare for my week by cleaning my bedroom, doing homework, and planning. I have started listening to energetic pop and techno music. This routine is a necessity for me. But, it has often brought me anxiety. The music counteracts this anxiety by giving me energy to check off my to-do list and by making me feel more productive rather than overwhelmed.
Finding the right playlist can be purposeful, but it can also be something that influences us without even knowing it.
In a study conducted in 2019 by the University College London, participants’ brains responded to familiar music within 100 to 300 milliseconds, shown by rapid pupil dilation and cortical activity measured by an electro-encephalography. This shows that even passive listening can stimulate the brain’s memory and arousal pathways. What all of this means is that the music you choose can affect you even if it’s just background noise.
Taking a step back and thinking about what music feeds into your brain can be a form of beneficial self-reflection. Many streaming services, such as Spotify and Apple Music, have released yearly evaluations of personal listening tendencies, and this can be a moment to reflect on and reform your music choice. The effects of music can look different on each person at different times, so try to find what works for you.
Experiment with what can put you in the best headspace depending on the situation, and use that to your advantage.
Music is something we can carry with us everywhere, so let it lift you up. Make your music make you better. 
