Music as Motivation
I have seen that as I slowly learn new tools to help me with my Autism and ADHD, a lot of my neurodivergence is just learning how to hack my nervous system. Music (and other audio stims) have been a huge part of that throughout my life, but I’ve only recently realized it’s what I’m doing.
For most people, music is a way that they can enjoy art, connect to emotions in art, and it is by far and away the most equally available art form. Radios are still cheap and widely available, so even if you can’t afford to buy specific music, you can find free versions with ads in a variety of ways. You also don’t have to go anywhere to find it (there may be some rare exceptions), and you can enjoy it in your own home on a TV, phone, or radio.
For me, music has always been a way I help myself feel emotion. It’s also how I’ve helped myself focus, relax, energize… The emotions in my music have an effect on my emotional state. If I need to focus, I will play something with no words and a decent driving beat to the songs. If I’m sad and don’t want to be, I’ll play something upbeat and bright. If I want to let myself feel sad or hard feelings that I sometimes struggle to process, I’ll play something slow and morose.
I don’t know that this is universal, though it does seem to be in the neurodivergent crowd, but it works for me and might work for you too. Next time you want to be in a different place emotionally, try out some music.
I’ll put a link in here to some of my favorite YouTube playlists, they are free but have ads.
Focus: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Almost anything by LoFi Girl.
