7 Best Ways to Relax with Music

7 Best Ways to Relax with Music: Boost Energy & Soothe Your Soul

Feeling low on energy? Burned out from the grind? For music lovers and musicians alike, there’s a science-backed, soul-soothing remedy hiding in plain sight — music itself.

Whether you’re a professional singer, studio artist, or simply someone who lives with headphones on, music can be one of the most powerful tools to reset your mind, uplift your mood, and revitalize your body.

In 7 ways to relax with music guide, we’re going beyond the basics. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill “play chill music and light a candle” tips. You’ll get seven deeply effective, research-supported, and artist-approved ways to harness music to truly relax and recharge.

1. Create a Personal Wind-Down Playlist

Not all music relaxes the same way. You need a custom playlist that speaks to you.

Start by identifying songs that consistently make you feel calm or emotionally grounded. For some, it’s lo-fi beats or soft jazz. For others, it could be ambient electronica, acoustic folk, or even instrumental movie soundtracks.

Tips for creating your ultimate playlist:

• • Choose songs with 60-80 BPM (beats per minute) for optimal calming effects.

• • Avoid tracks with abrupt tempo changes or loud dynamics.

• • Include songs with nostalgic or positive emotional associations.

According to research from the British Academy of Sound Therapy, music with around 60 BPM can cause the brain to synchronize with the beat, creating alpha brainwaves associated with relaxation.

2. Try Progressive Muscle Relaxation With Music

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is a technique where you tense and relax each muscle group in your body, one at a time. When paired with slow, steady music, it becomes a next-level relaxation ritual.

How to do it:

• • Find a quiet space and play calming instrumental tracks (think: piano, ambient pads, or soft strings).

• • Close your eyes. Begin tensing your toes, hold for 5 seconds, then release.

• • Work your way up the body: calves, thighs, abdomen, chest, arms, neck, face.

Why it works: Music helps distract from external stressors while guiding your breathing and movement.

3. Go on a Musical Walk

Walking while listening to music can be incredibly therapeutic, especially when you’re creatively blocked or mentally fatigued.

Here’s the magic formula:

• • Choose instrumental or ambient music without lyrics.

• • Walk at a steady pace in nature or a quiet neighborhood.

• • Focus your thoughts on the rhythm, sounds, and your breath.

This technique, often used by composers and music producers, helps reset the nervous system and can spark fresh ideas.

Bonus: Walking while listening to music activates both hemispheres of your brain, improving focus and emotional processing.

4. Use Binaural Beats for Deep Calm

Binaural beats are an audio illusion created when two slightly different frequencies are played in each ear. Your brain processes them as a single, rhythmic tone — and that tone can shift your mental state.

For relaxation, try:

• • Delta waves (0.5–4 Hz): Best for deep sleep and meditative states.

• • Theta waves (4–8 Hz): Great for deep relaxation, creativity, and meditation.

• • Alpha waves (8–14 Hz): Useful for stress reduction and mild focus.

Caution: You must use headphones to experience binaural beats properly.

5. Sing or Hum — Even if You’re Not a “Singer”

You don’t have to be a professional singer to reap the benefits of vocalizing.

Humming or singing releases endorphins and oxytocin — the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Humming also activates the parasympathetic nervous system, slowing the heart rate and encouraging calm.

Try this:

• • Hum a simple tune for 5–10 minutes.

• • Focus on the vibration in your chest and face.

• • Let your breath lead your rhythm.

If you’re a professional musician, humming can also serve as a gentle vocal warm-up or creative reset.

6. Listen With Full Presence (No Multitasking!)

We often treat music as background noise — while working, driving, or scrolling. But listening intentionally can turn music into a mindful experience.

Here’s how to practice mindful music listening:

• • Choose a quiet space and one meaningful track.

• • Close your eyes and listen without distractions.

• • Notice the instruments, tempo, lyrics, emotions.

This practice is especially powerful for musicians and singers who spend most of their time creating music rather than receiving it.

7. Use Music to Transition Between Stressful Tasks

Music can act as a powerful bridge between high-energy and low-energy states.

Create micro-rituals throughout your day using music:

• • After a tough rehearsal or studio session, listen to a grounding track before heading home.

• • Between work tasks, play 2-3 minutes of ambient or acoustic music to mentally reset.

• • Use a short musical interlude to shift from screen time to sleep time.

Think of it as using music like a gentle gear shift — guiding your brain and body smoothly into a new rhythm.

Final Thoughts: Let Music Be Your Medicine

Relaxing with music isn’t just about what you hear — it’s about how you use it. From intentional listening to walking meditations, your relationship with music can shift your energy, reduce stress, and nurture your creativity.

Whether you’re a music lover or a full-time musician, incorporating these techniques into your daily life can lead to deeper rest, sharper focus, and a stronger connection to your own rhythm.

What’s your favorite way to relax with music?
Share it in the comments below — let’s learn from each other!

Bonus Tips: Supercharge Your Music Relaxation Routine

Bonus Tip 1: Try Music Journaling After Listening

After a deep music session, grab a notebook or use a journaling app. Reflect on how the music made you feel, what it reminded you of, and what emotions came up.

Benefits:

• • Helps process stress or lingering emotions

• • Strengthens your emotional vocabulary (key for singers and songwriters)

• • Turns a passive listening session into active self-discovery

Music journaling is like songwriting for non-songwriters — a way to connect with your inner world.

Bonus Tip 2: Match Music to Your Breathing

One powerful way to amplify music’s relaxation effects is to synchronize your breathing with the tempo.

Here’s how:

• • Pick a slow, steady piece of music.

• • Inhale during the musical build-up.

• • Exhale during the resolution or “soft drop.”

This technique is used in yoga classes and meditation centers worldwide — and it’s just as effective at home, especially before bed or after a high-stress event.

Bonus Tip 3: Let Music Guide a Visualization Exercise

Close your eyes, play something cinematic or ambient, and allow the music to “paint” a mental scene. Imagine walking through a quiet forest, floating in space, or revisiting a peaceful childhood memory.

Music-guided visualization taps into your subconscious and helps you detach from anxious thoughts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What genre of music is best for relaxation?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. However, studies have shown that:

• • Classical (especially Baroque)

• • Ambient and instrumental music

• • Lo-fi beats

• • Soft jazz

…all tend to reduce stress and support relaxation. The best music is the one that you personally connect to emotionally.

Q2: Can relaxing music actually reduce anxiety?

Yes. Numerous clinical studies, including research published in the Journal of Music Therapy, have shown that music can lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone), reduce heart rate, and improve mood — especially when paired with mindfulness techniques.

Q3: Should I avoid lyrics when trying to relax?

Not necessarily. If the lyrics are calming, nostalgic, or meaningful to you, they can enhance the experience. However, for deep meditation or sleep, instrumental music is typically more effective to prevent cognitive distraction.

Q4: How long should I listen to music for stress relief?

Even 10 minutes can make a difference. But for deeper relaxation, aim for 20–30 uninterrupted minutes of listening or humming/singing.

Q5: What’s the difference between binaural beats and regular instrumental music?

Binaural beats are designed to influence brainwave states by introducing two slightly different tones in each ear. Instrumental music, while soothing, doesn’t interact with your brain’s electrical activity the same way. They’re both useful, but binaural beats are more targeted for altering mental states (like focus or deep sleep).

Closing Thoughts: Let Music Become Your Medicine Cabinet

Music isn’t just for background noise — it’s one of the most accessible, enjoyable, and scientifically validated tools for resetting the body and mind. Whether you’re a professional singer recovering from an exhausting tour, a guitarist decompressing after a long studio session, or someone just trying to unwind after work — music is your ally.

Try different techniques. Explore new genres. And most importantly, listen intentionally.

How do you use music to relax?
Do you have a favorite artist, ritual, or go-to playlist?

Share your personal tip in the comments below — we’ll feature our favorites in a future article!