Who doesn't get a good feeling when they listen to beautiful music? Music can be both powerful motivating and gently calming depending upon the type of music you play and how loudly or softly you play it. Music can even make you smarter and healthier if you know how to use it correctly. Here's how to use music to improve your life by making you smarter, healthier, and calmer:

New Age Music

The gentle, dulcet tones of New Age music can help to calm and relax you when your stress level is high. Whether you're feeling frazzled, stressed, or have just had too much caffeine, playing New Age music in the background can calm you mind and help you unwind. Keep a selection of New Age CD's on hand to play when you come home from a hard day at work. Relax in a big, easy chair, look at the sunset and drink in the rich, melodic tones of John Brickman or Enya. You'll feel refreshed in no time.

Popular Music

Want to use music to get healthier? Download some fast paced popular music onto your IPod and carry it to the gym with you, then listen to your tunes while working out on the treadmill or elliptical machine. Try some high energy popular music from the 1980's such as Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" or Michael Jackson's "Beat It". Studies have shown you'll work harder and longer when you're listening to high energy music.

Classical Music

Do you want to use music to get smarter? You've probably heard of the "Mozart effect" which is the idea that listening to classical music can improve spatio-temporal reasoning. Because there's some controversy about this, try listening to classical music while you're working and see if you find it soothing distracting. Some people find classical music improves their ability to concentrate while others find it detracts from their focus. See what works for you.

Country Music

Another way to use music to get healthy is to dance to some fast paced country music. Upbeat country music has just the right beat for kicking up your feet and burning some quick calories. Keep a country CD in your player and use it as an energizer when you catch yourself falling asleep during the day. Try some selections by Rascal Flatts. Most of their songs are a cross between pop and country and are great for aerobic dancing.

Spiritual Music

You can also use music to refresh and inspire your soul. Why not tune in to a little spiritual music? Spiritual music can have either a soothing or an uplifting effect depending up on the type you select so it's a good choice for almost any occasion. It's also good healing music if you've recently experienced a traumatic event in your life such as losing a loved one.

Music is an all natural and inexpensive source for enhancing your life. Why not discover how to use music to make your own life better?