Whether it’s triggered by a heavy workload, relationship troubles or a big life event like moving house, we all deal with stress from time to time. It’s perfectly normal and in small amounts, can even be helpful. But there are definitely times where being all worked up isn’t doing you any favours — like when you’ve got a looming deadline and are so overwhelmed you can’t even focus. Or, when you can’t formulate a coherent sentence during a heated argument.
In these situations, you need a quick fix that will bring your heart rate down, allowing you to regain focus and composure. While we all have our different go-tos, there’s no denying that listening to music is one of the most effective ways to destress. Some people swear by pumping techno beats to help them chill out, while others inexplicably find death metal relaxing — it’s all just a matter of taste. However, there are a few songs that have been scientifically proven to cause relaxation-inducing physiological changes in the body.
At the top of that list is Marconi Union’s Weightless, which was specifically created with sound therapists to induce relaxation. With a continuous rhythm of 60 BPM, it causes the brainwaves and heart rate to synchronise with the beats: a process known as ‘entrainment’. In a study of the world’s most relaxing songs, scientists found that the song reduces listeners anxiety levels by 65% and physiological resting rates by 35%.
The study – commissioned by bubble bath and shower gel firm Radox Spa – found the song was even more relaxing than a massage or having a cup of tea. In fact, it’s so relaxing that people have been advised against listening to it while driving! You can check the tune below as well as 6 more of the most relaxing songs of all time (according to the study) below. Or, keep scrolling to find all the tunes conveniently together in one place in our Spotify playlist.
Weightless by Marconi Union
Electra by Airstream
Mellomaniac (Chillout Mix) by Dr Shah
Watermark by Enya
Strawberry Swing by Coldplay
We Can Fly by Rue De Soleil
Canzonetta Sull’aria by Mozart
