Why I Stopped Listening To Music.
No, I didn’t go crazy.. here’s what actually happened.
It sounds insane, but why would anyone stop listening to music?
Some believe that music nurtures the soul; it’s a language that's so beautiful and filled with emotions, beauty, and depth that we often can’t explain.
Before we dive in, no, I didn’t have a lobotomy or go off the rails. This is my honest reflection on what music used to mean to me, and what it no longer means to me.
It was unplanned. Honestly, it was very random and washed over me for a while. I woke up one random Tuesday and stopped listening to music. That was around six months ago.
But enough about me, let's dive a bit into what music is to you.
How does music make you feel? What does your favorite artist say about who you are?
Music is something intangible. It’s a mix of sound frequencies travelling through the air, landing in our ears, triggering something only we can feel. The same song can trigger endless reactions; some people cry, others feel inspired, and some feel completely seen. It’s not about logic. It’s about your heart and subconscious mind.
Music is powerful. It’s designed to induce emotions in ways we often don’t expect. Personally, I’ve always loved soundtracks. Whether in movies or video games. They’re not some background noise; they shape the whole narrative. And we don’t only listen to music based on how we feel, but we use it to shape how we want to feel.
I’ll be sharing screenshots of my Spotify Wrapped data below (how many minutes I listened in each year, and my top songs and artists).
Before you scroll: no judgments over my taste in music. Be nice.
2022
I won’t get too deep into this one. As I mentioned earlier, music often reflects one's emotional or mental state, and this year offered its challenges.
These numbers shocked me too, that’s about 6 hours and 40 minutes every single day, for a full year.
Looking back, I was obviously avoiding many things, including myself. I used music as a way to fill every moment. It became this world I lived in, a language I understood better than my own. But that also meant that I was disconnected from reality.
When you’re feeling down, listening to sad music might feel validating, but staying in that emotional loop can keep you stuck.
2023
Let’s ignore the Taylor Swift phase (or don’t, no shame). However, this year marked a noticeable shift: from 6 hours and 40 minutes to 2 hours and 7 minutes per day.
That’s where I started to reconnect with the real world and take a step back from the emotional weight of my old playlists (I had over 100). My music taste changed, and so did I.
2023 was a significant year for me, as it was all about change. Slow and small steps forward. I began to remove myself from spaces that weren’t good for me, and I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I couldn’t stay where I was.
2024
Now this was my favorite year. It was filled with big steps, including Dean’s List awards, and I graduated with honors from university, traveling to beautiful countries. I can proudly say that this is where I began to notice the results of the change that I made a year ago, and it was only going to get better.
Or my frontal lobe was still developing, and I was making healthy decisions.
I didn’t allow my old lifestyle to get in the way of my progress. And, of course, this shift was reflected in my music habits as well. Down from 2 hours and 7 minutes to just 44 minutes per day!!
2025
I was going to wait till the end of the year to post the data, but I cancelled my Spotify subscription. So here we are.
Just to clarify: when I say I stopped listening to music, I don’t mean I cut it out entirely. That’s almost impossible. Music is everywhere: on social media, in restaurants, at movies, at parties, and during car rides with friends. I simply stopped intentionally choosing to play music as part of my daily routine and entertainment. I realized the power music had over me, around my mental state, and slowly began to step away from it.
The funny thing is, I didn’t realize I had stopped until about a month ago.
That post-grad period gave me a chance to just exist. I listened to podcasts, read books in both languages I speak, worked out (gave up in two months), interned at a museum, focused on skincare, and had lots and lots of sleep (Mom is a witness to that). Basically, I pampered myself before corporate life could get its hands on me.
Overall, everyone experiences music differently, and for me, it was an escape until I decided that it wasn't.
Here’s a little experiment: Try going 24 hours without music.
Would you survive? Would you go mad? Would your thoughts get louder? Would you finally sit with them?
I’d love to hear from you, dear readers.
What does music mean to you? Would you try the 24-hour no music experiment?
Finally, thank you for reading until the end.
This is a very interesting piece to read!
As a Muslim, I’ve always felt like those who say music is prohibited or disliked were being a bit extra. Some scholars say it depends on the context, others reject it completely if instruments are used.
Some argue it’s because music can distract us or carry bad meanings, and some even say it can control the mind. I used to think that was exaggerated… until I noticed how people react to songs: “I was fine, then this sad song ruined my mood,” or “I was over my ex, then this song made me text him.” That really hit me.
Whether it’s prohibited/ disliked or not, I think our emotions and actions should be in our hands, not controlled by melodies. It’s okay to enjoy music sometimes if we wanna dance, but not to let it run our mood or become constant background noise.
Honestly, I might be smarter if I listened less 😂 cause when I listen I just zone out and do nothing, instead of thinking. Thank you for writing this, it really made me think. Next time, I’ll leave my headphones in another room!
this is powerful. as enjoyable as music can be, it can overpower you and numb you. sometimes we need to let our bodies sit in silence, to take in our surroundings, and use that silence to think hard and to even converse with God. i particularly like the vulnerability here. excellent post!! :)