Scott Weaver
Updated at: October 19, 2023 · 20 min read
The Ultimate Music For Sleep Playlist: Top 20 Songs to Help You Nod Off
The value of a good night’s sleep cannot be overstated. Sometimes, unfortunately, it can be difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. When we struggle to get a good night’s sleep, it can have a knock-on effect for days. This can lead people to look for different things to help them sleep better. One such thing is music. Can music truly be used as a sleep aid? And if so, which songs are the best for this purpose? In this article, we will answer music-based sleep questions, and will also provide you with the UK Meds ultimate sleep playlist that you can use to help you drift off.
UK Meds Songs for Sleep Playlist
Check out the UK Meds Songs for Sleep Playlist and don’t forget to share and follow before you nod off.
Does music help you sleep?
Yes, for many people, music can be an effective tool to help induce sleep. Some sleep specialists even provide sleep therapy for some people to help them sleep. Music therapy is safe and easy to administer and can effectively improve sleep quality among older adults, particularly those listening to more sedative music for at least a four-week duration. (Chia-Te Chen et al, 2021).
Lack of sleep, or conditions such as insomnia, can be sensitive issues, and some people may not find that they experience the desired results when they listen to specific styles of music. In general, relaxing classical music is considered to be an effective intervention in reducing sleeping problems, and is often recommended to people with stressful jobs who may struggle with insomnia, such as nurses (Harmat et al, 2008).
It is important to note that music may not work on its own to help people sleep. As sleep can be such a delicate process, particularly for sufferers of insomnia or people over the age of 65, simply using music can be affected by a variety of different factors. Several factors can influence the efficacy of music in helping older people sleep (Yen-Chin Chen et al, 2022).
Do people use music in their everyday lives to improve sleep quality?
People will listen to music all throughout the day. Whether you are driving to or from work or school, or if you are trying to through a long day at work by putting your headphones in, you are constantly absorbing music. In a 2018 study, 62% of 651 participants reported that using music helped them to sleep. The participants listened to music that covered 14 different genres and 545 artists. This emphasises the diverse pathways that different people follow when they are trying to use music to help their sleep (Trahan et al, 2018).
Can music help to improve sleep quality for insomnia patients?
Yes, music has been found to be beneficial for many people who suffer from insomnia or poor sleep quality. Listening to music can be effective in improving subjective sleep quality for adults experiencing symptoms of insomnia. However, further research is needed to determine the effects of music on other sleep-related aspects and the daytime repercussions of insomnia (Jespersen et al, 2022) According to the same study, listening to music can help you to fall asleep quicker, sleep for longer, and improve the quality of the sleep you are getting, however, it does not counteract potential sleep interruptions that can affect these factors.
Can music be used as a sleep aid?
Yes, music can be used as a sleep aid. It has been shown to help people relax, reduce stress, and create a conducive mental and physical environment for falling asleep. However, the effectiveness of music as a sleep aid can vary from person to person. Whilst music can help people to sleep, it is not the only thing people can use as a sleep aid. While music is popular, acupressure was found to be the most effective IMA (integrative medicine approaches), followed by music and then meditation (Chiung-Yu Huang et al, 2018). Acupressure is a traditional Chinese medicine technique based on the same principles as acupuncture. Instead of using needles, as is done in acupuncture, acupressure involves the application of manual pressure (using the fingers or specialised tools) to specific points on the body.
Is it bad to listen to music while sleeping?
Listening to music while sleeping has potential benefits and drawbacks, depending on individual preferences, the type of music, and the specific situation.
Which songs are the best music for sleep?
As previously stated, the music people listen to that can help them sleep will vary across a number of different genres and hundreds and thousands of artists. Music is incredibly subjective. Usually, music that has between 60-80 beats per minute (BPM) is considered to be best for sleep. This is because it can mirror the natural rhythm of your relaxed heartbeat, triggering a relaxation response and decreasing brain activity.
Everyone will have different tastes and everyone will respond differently to different songs. It can be difficult to pinpoint the perfect playlist for sleep, which is why we asked our customers to tell us some of their favourite songs so we could tailor a playlist just for them. Here is the list of the top 20 songs that they came up with:
Radiohead - No Surprises
The Beatles - Blackbird
Massive Attack - Teardrop
Claude Debussy - Clair de Lune
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
Moby - Porcelain
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Dream a Little Dream of Me
Ludovico Einaudi - Divenire
Enya - Orinoco Flow
The Smiths - Asleep
The xx - Intro
The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build a Home
Hans Zimmer - Cornfield Chase
Coldplay - Midnight
Erik Satie - Gymnopédie No.1
Ludwig van Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata
Sade - No Ordinary Love
John Mayer - Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
Jack Johnson - Banana Pancakes
Foals - Moon
What sleep treatments are available at UK Meds?
Whilst some people may use music to help improve their sleep, others may use medication to help with their sleep, particularly if they are affected by sleep conditions such as insomnia. At UK Meds, we provide a number of different sleep treatments, including:
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