Listening To Catchy Songs Before Bed Might Mess With Your Sleep Quality

There are a few things we know not to do before bed, like drinking coffee, scrolling through social media, or firing off emails. And according to a new study from researchers at Baylor University1, you might want to add listening to music to the list.

Sleep quality was measured by polysomnography, which tracks brain waves, heart rate, breathing, and other biomarkers of sleep. The team found that those who did report an earworm had more trouble falling asleep, woke up more often during the night, and spent more time in light sleep stages.

The findings of this study are surprising because music is often considered a great part of a relaxing routine— and in some cases, it can even help sleep! But this research shows that the kind of music matters: More steady, melodic tunes might be better for sleep quality and help you stay asleep throughout the night, especially if you're someone who gets songs stuck in your head easily.

Our dreams also seem to be majorly influenced by what we do—or think about—before we sleep. In fact, by setting an intention for dreaming, you may even be able to control what you dream about and use your dreams to work through a problem or consider a choice (though manipulating your dreams for that may not necessarily improve sleep quality).

If you love your before-bed playlist routine, this study doesn't mean you have to quit it. Just take note of any songs in your mix that might cause an earworm, and see if skipping them next time makes your sleep any more restful or helps you wake up less frequently during the night.