From the Research
To manage earworms, try engaging with the song fully by listening to it completely, especially the end, which can provide closure to your brain, as this approach is supported by the most recent and highest quality study available 1. When considering the management of earworms, it's essential to prioritize strategies that minimize disruption to daily life and reduce the likelihood of associated conditions such as anxiety or OCD.
- Listening to the song completely can help provide closure and reduce the mental loop that keeps the song playing in your head.
- Distracting yourself with another activity that requires mental focus, like solving puzzles or reading, can also be effective.
- Chewing gum has been shown to reduce earworm frequency by interfering with the brain's auditory processing.
- For persistent earworms, the "cognitive itch" technique, which involves replacing the stuck song with a different, less annoying one, can be helpful.
- Meditation and mindfulness, as discussed in studies such as 2 and 3, can teach you to acknowledge the earworm without engaging with it, potentially reducing its impact.
- If earworms significantly disrupt your daily life, consider speaking with a healthcare provider, as they can sometimes be associated with underlying conditions that require professional attention. The occurrence of earworms is generally harmless and temporary, typically lasting less than 24 hours, and is thought to be related to the activation of the brain's auditory cortex by music, especially songs with repetitive patterns or emotional significance 1.