Music: Fuel for the Soul
Music speaks to us on many levels. It has the potential to influence us both psychologically and physiologically. Music is a very important area of therapy for stress management.
Music can help people identify and express their feelings. It can provide a sense of soothing relief. Music can speak for us when we don’t know how.
Listening to music can also improve learning and memory skills, which can be very useful if you are under stress. Music therapy has been used for centuries as a way to help restore energy, improve mood and even help the body heal.
Music is a natural antidepressant. It can give you a natural, euphoric high.
In a recent study at the University of Missouri, it was found that music is monumental for mood improvement. Studies show that higher levels of happiness lead to improved health, greater relationship satisfaction and better job performance.
Soothe Your Soul
Soothing music cultivates the release of serotonin, a hormone that increases happiness and a general sense of well-being. It can also flush your body with dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel good. Music can also bring about the release of norepinephrine, a hormone that produces elation and even euphoria.
Music of a soothing nature can help relax tense muscles and even slow your heart rate. Certain types of music can motivate us and keep us going. It is a safe and inexpensive way to improve your mood. Not only does music change and affect your current mood, but it can help alter future moods as well. Music can significantly alter your brain waves, which can mean a more positive mood for hours or even days to come.
Here is a list of our 10 favorite soothing songs:
- Morning by Beck
- Air by The Gulls and A&J
- Svefn-G-Englar by Sigur Ros
- Such Great Heights by Iron & Wine
- The Crown by Twin Caverns
- Soak by GEMS
- Cool Blue by The Japanese House
- Relaxed by The O’Neill Brothers
- Linger In My Soul by South Dolphin
- Free Like Nothing by Leila Dean
We find these particular songs to be very soothing and relaxing. But music is not the only way to relieve stress and unwind. You may have heard of the newest stress-relief trend, grown-up coloring books.
Coloring allows the fear center of your brain to relax, thus relaxing you. And it’s not just while you’re coloring either. Coloring has been shown to actually reduce overall stress levels. The inability to focus is often a stress trigger. Coloring is a meditative, free-time activity you can schedule that allows you to focus and best of all, it’s fun!
Coloring while listening to some soothing tunes is a sure-fire way to help you relax and unwind. It is a great way to decompress after a long strenuous day at work that doesn’t require a high level of skill.
Resources:
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/mental-listening-to-music-lifts-or-reinforces-mood-051713#3
http://examinedexistence.com/how-music-changes-your-mood/
http://www.bustle.com/articles/101264-7-reasons-adult-coloring-books-will-make-your-life-a-whole-lot-brighter
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