Last Updated on December 8, 2023 by Erin
If you are dealing with chaotic evenings in a busy household, ambient music videos have helped my family immensely. Read more and then open up YouTube and give it a try!
The older I get, the crankier I get when I am overwhelmed. I don’t know about you but when I get home after a long day of work (with children between grades K-8) I am looking for a quiet respite. My three children are honestly looking for the same thing. They’ve been working their butts off learning, listening, following rules, interacting, playing, etc. We have all been surrounded by computer screens, fluorescent lighting, and sound. YouTube ambient music videos have been a lifesaver for us.
Before, we would come home, I would nag the kids to put things where they go, they’d start demanding snacks, and I’d drag myself over to the couch so I could aimlessly scroll on my phone while they argued over which TV show they would turn on. A headache would come on and I would start justifying ordering takeout so that I didn’t have to exert any more energy or make another decision. Sound familiar?
I couldn’t take it anymore! SERENITY NOW!
Enter Ambient Music
I know what you’re thinking…seriously? But hear me out!
I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I mean HUGE. One day I was searching for the movie soundtrack to play on our Smart TV. I opened up YouTube, searched for the music, and found an account called “Ambient Worlds.” They had several Harry Potter-themed ambient music videos with film soundtracks as well as themes from other faves such as Star Wars, Chronicles of Narnia, and even Disney World theme parks!
What Is Ambient Music?
Ambient music is a genre of music that emphasizes the creation of a particular atmosphere or mood, rather than focusing on traditional song structure or melody. It is characterized by its use of electronic and acoustic instruments, often incorporating sounds from nature or the environment.
Ambient music is typically designed to be played in the background, creating a soundscape that can help to enhance relaxation, meditation, or other activities that require a calming environment. The genre originated in the 1970s with artists such as Brian Eno and has since evolved to include a wide range of styles and sub-genres.
Ambient music videos are videos that create a calming atmosphere that can be played for long durations. If you’ve ever played a channel on your TV that looked like a crackling fireplace, that was an ambient video. We particularly enjoy the ambient videos that play music soundtracks.
Benefits of YouTube Calming Music
This article from Radio Fidelity describes how calming ambient music can help our wellbeing. It lists benefits such as:
- reducing heart rate
- releases dopamine (feel-good hormones)
- distracts your brain when you start over-thinking
- increase productivity
- better pain management!!
Once I fell down that rabbit hole of ambient music, I was hooked. The visuals in these types of videos are STUNNING and some of them look very real. Is there anything more calming than listening to instrumental music while you imagine yourself in the Gryffindor common room?
How It Helps Calm the Household Chaos
For my children, these ambient music videos work like magic. They might check out the visuals for a moment, but it seems to help regulate their little bodies (and mine). We often find ourselves pulling out a book or working on a puzzle after it’s been on for a few minutes. I particularly enjoy turning it on while I’m making dinner.
I’ve started trying out a variety of different ambient videos such as nature scenes or LoFi music that has relaxing beats. When I have this type of music playing in the background, I am able to better stay focused on whatever it is I’m doing. Sometimes at night I will play ambient music while I’m reading. My thoughts wander much less, and I don’t have to read pages several times over to make sure I actually understood it.
If you have a Smart TV, give it a try on YouTube. You could also pull it up on your phone, tablet, or Amazon Echo Show device. Let me know what you think!
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Sincerely,
Erin
