As the semester winds down and term papers and finals loom closer every day, studying can become unreasonably difficult. Every day, the weather feels more and more like summer, and your classes only get tougher and tougher to concentrate on. So, when you've got a big test coming up and absolutely zero motivation to study, dragging yourself to the library to sit in silence and stare at your notes for hours at a time takes a back seat to literally every other option of spending your time.

One way to make studying a little less of a drag is to listen to music. Of course, it's easy to get distracted if you listen to certain kinds of music, or if you spend more time looking for the right music than actually studying, so I'm going to help you out: here are three different kinds of music that are best for studying, and all you have to do is choose which one's right for you.

1. Atmospheric Music

A trick a lot of novelists use to "get in character" while writing is creating special playlists for their stories. It helps them get into the world they're writing about and stay focused on what's happening in their stories, not in the world around them.

You can apply this trick to studying by picking music that makes you feel like you're in another world where you can get into the "character" of the diligent student. This type of music is best for when you have practically zero motivation and need a change of mind.

Suggestions:

The "Cinematic Chill Out" playlist on Spotify is perfect for making you feel like you're in another world. Full of calming scores from movies you may or may not have heard of, this playlist is interesting enough to keep you from being bored and keep you focused while studying.

Though Spotify's "Nature Noise" is not technically music, it's perfect for this purpose, as well. Plus, it might be better for those who might be more easily distracted.

2. Instrumentals & Acoustics

Listening to the instrumental or acoustic versions of songs you love can also help you focus. In fact, studies show that your brain functions better when you listen to music you like. While jamming out to your favorite songs could be distracting, it's easy to find more calming versions of them. This type of music is best for calming your nerves by putting you in a better mood.

Suggestions:

While we all love Taylor Swift's "1989," it's not the best choice, as it has the potential to turn your study session into an impromptu dance party. However, Ryan Adams's cover of the album is more relaxing and less distracting—perfect for studying.

If you'd rather have no lyrics at all, Spotify has plenty of instrumental playlists to choose from, like "Instrumental Pop Covers" or "Instrumental Study."

3. Good Old Classical Music

When you need an intense focus, classical music is probably the best choice. Of course, we've all heard that listening to classical music improves your thinking, but if you really need to focus, studies show listening to Mozart has the most positive effect on mental performance, a theory called the "Mozart Effect."

Suggestions:

For upbeat classical to motivate you and put you in a good mood while studying, listen to Spotify's "Epic Classical" playlist.

For a softer side of classical music, listen to Spotify's "Ballet Class" playlist.

Listening to music while studying is a great way to stay focused and motivated. While picking the right soundtrack to your study session can be tricky, hopefully now you have more options and a better idea of what kind of music fits your studying style best.