In Handy Tips, we find ways to improve your life and make it easier and explain why these tips work. Today, we will tell you how to get rid of earworms, songs or jingles that get stuck in your head and won’t come out for several minutes or even days.
The harsh truth of life is that your own brain does not care about your taste in music, so even a hateful song can get stuck in your head pretty easily. We have found several ways to help you save yourself from this adversity. Go to the next step only when the previous one failed.
1. Listen to this song
A lot of studies have been devoted to the problem of earworms. One of the most voluminous, published in the scientific journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, foaming at the mouth, claims that it is enough to listen to the song entirely, and it will miraculously disappear from your head.
2. Replace it with another song in your head
The same study provides a list of the most common "sticky songs." Try the fight fire with fire principle. Pay attention to the fun fact that some American singers made their careers with such songs:
- Lady Gaga, "Bad Romance"
- Kylie Minogue, "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (Is it a coincidence?)
- Journey, "Don't Stop Believing"
- Gotye, "Somebody That I Used to Know"
- Maroon 5, "Moves Like Jagger"
- Katy Perry, "California Gurls"
- Queen, "Bohemian Rhapsody"
- Lady Gaga, "Alejandro"
- Lady Gaga, "Poker Face"
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3. Chew some gum
Another study found that chewing gum is often helpful.
4. Get some brain activity going
Try to play solitaire, solve a crossword puzzle, prove Fermat's great theorem. In other words, do something that doesn't strain your brain too much, but requires attention.
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5. Listen to a special playlist
The truth is, in all of the studies cited, scientists admit they have no idea why songs get stuck in our heads. Probably the last four tips may not as well help you.
