Almost everyone remembers a song without realizing it that lasts up to 1-2 weeks. This phenomenon is called an earworm or brainworm, and it can be a good thing, or a bad thing. Read this article to find out how to get the related song out of your head.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Listening to Songs
Step 1. Listen to the song until it's finished
Most songs that stick in your head, aka earworms, are only part of the song, usually the catchy chorus is easy to remember or only consists of 1-2 sentences. Your brain may be repeating this part because it doesn't know what's next. Listen to the song in full from start to finish. This method is probably the most effective, although it often doesn't work either.
Listening to songs is not always effective. If you don't want to go back to listening to a related song, read the distraction techniques section below
Step 2. Search for song lyrics
Unclear or forgotten lyrics can also frustrate your brain. Search the internet for related song lyrics. Sing out loud or mutter to yourself to help your brain process the song.
If you can remember all the lyrics, the song can be too long and won't last long in your memory
Step 3. Play a song with a musical instrument
If you play an instrument, try reenacting the song. Diving into music and learning how to play it solves the problems of many musicians.
Try different twists and variations so the cycle isn't repetitive
Step 4. Visualize the song changes
Even if you find this difficult to do, a sense of control can make you more confident about the situation. For a few minutes, or until you get frustrated, try changing the song in any of the following ways:
- Imagine that you turn the knob to lower the volume to a whisper.
- Think of your mind as a room with many rooms. Build a shield in front of the song, slowly confining it to a diminishing area. Each time you add a shield, the song becomes more muted and muted.
- Play the song in your head at different tempos, and imagine the song playing (very) slow or fast.
Step 5. Draw the end of the song
Once the song goes quiet, it's time to end it. Use visualization techniques to “kick” the song out of your head:
- Picture a sword or sharp object inside your head, and break the link between your thoughts and the song.
- Imagine a record player with as much detail as possible. Look closely at the needle moving in the groove of the record as the song plays. Lift the needle, and listen for the sudden silence.
- When you reach the end of the song, sing the last note (aloud or in your head) then let the note slowly decrease until it is much lower than all the notes in the song. This can sometimes prevent it from playing again.
Method 2 of 2: Distracting Yourself
Step 1. Chew gum
For most people, chewing gum seems to prevent ringing in the head. It also helps you ignore songs during the following steps.
Step 2. Let the mind wander
One study found that fighting songs in your head often led to more frequent and longer episodes later in life. Try ignoring the song while you try to have something else in mind. This isn't always possible, but take a few minutes to try.
Step 3. Solve the word puzzle
Anagrams, crossword puzzles, and other word puzzles can help get the song out of your head. Think of the words that inhabit the same area of the brain that plays imaginary lyrics. Stay focused, and the brain may only be able to dwell on one activity.
If you don't feel any difference and are still frustrated, stop. Sometimes, earworms get worse when you try to fight them
Step 4. Divert attention with a quiet verbal activity
Calming activities can work best if you are anxious about earworms and are worried that you can't control them. Here are a few options that preoccupy your brain's hearing and speech centers:
- Say something or read aloud.
- Chatting.
- Meditation.
- Pray.
- Read a book.
- Watching television.
- Play video games that have speech and/or text.
Step 5. Listen to musical medicine
Always choose a song that you enjoy, in the hope that this song can replace the previous song that was stuck in your head. Usually these drug songs are specific to one person, but according to surveys, there are some songs that are more popular with many people: If you hate the songs below, keep reading to find out how to find yours.
- God Save the Queen
- Karma Chameleon by Culture Club
- Happy Birthday To You
- The A-Team theme song
- Kashmir by Led Zeppelin
- Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel
Step 6. Sing along to a lesser known song
Start with a song that tends to stick in your head. Avoid notes that are easy to remember, and ideally look for music you've only heard 1-2 times. The harder a song can be to sing, the less likely it is to ring in your head.
Step 7. Sing a song you know well
If the previous method doesn't work, it's time to get your heavy weapon out. This method will often stick in your head, but even so, it's still better than the previous song. Here are some songs that easily stick in the mind:
- Songs you know well, especially those that relate to nostalgia or a particular memory.
- An easy song to sing. These songs tend to be of long duration, and the pitch doesn't change much. Most pop songs fit into this category.
- Song with repetition. These songs include nursery rhymes, songs with repetitive choruses, and again, pop songs.
Step 8. Do the math problems
You can sometimes get rid of the song that's playing in your head with a math problem, which requires your full focus to be able to solve it. Try calculating 8208 17, or work out 2 x 2 x 2 x 2… as long as you can.
Problems that are too difficult will be difficult to attract your attention. Choose a question that is still within your ability
Tips
- Listen to movie soundtracks. These songs are usually long and follow the scene so they are rarely repeated.
- Listen for white noise. Although the song playing in the head doesn't hit the eardrums immediately, the same nerves are still affected. The white noise neutralizes the nerves.
- Sing lots of different songs like a medley or remix.
- Speak for yourself out loud.
- Try tapping another beat with your fingers.
- Listen to another song. Try a song with a different rhythm or a different genre.
- Try playing the song upside down in your head!
