People like to listen to music throughout the day during a lot of different activities. They can listen to music when driving to or from work, at work, at the gym, while trying to study, while cleaning, and in many other situations. Music tends to help pass the time and is enjoyable to listen to. But that is not the only reason people listen to music. Some songs can also make people remember certain things and make listeners feel a certain way. People have recognized these benefits of music for a long time. Recently, the benefits of music listening have been seen in the healthcare field as well. There are a lot of studies that show the benefits of listening to music that you might have never thought of. These include stress relief, reduced symptoms of depression, pain management, lowered blood pressure, and much more. Music therapy treatments use these positive effects to help treat many different conditions such as depression, autism, substance abuse, Alzheimer’s disease, and more. If you want to learn more about how music can be used to treat some conditions and improve life, here are five ways music can improve your daily life.
1. Reinforce Positive Moods and Behaviors
One of the benefits of music listening is how it can reinforce desired moods and behaviors. You may have a song you only listen to when you’re feeling sad or worried. This song can be used to get you back in a positive mood. It can help you realize that “everything will be alright.” This can be very useful to parents because they can use specific songs to get their kids in certain moods. For example, playing a certain song before dinner can help kids know it is time to be calm and behave themselves at the table. Music can also be used to signal it’s time to wind down and get ready to go to bed. This works because the brain will associate music with a certain mood or behavior. Eventually, just hearing the first few notes will be enough to help you feel better, get your kids to calm down, or bring out the moods and behaviors you’re trying to reinforce. Without a doubt, this is one of the most powerful advantages of music.
2. Daydream with Music
In addition to reinforcing certain moods, one of the benefits of music listening is how it can get you in a better mood. Everyone wants to listen to music that matches their mood. That’s why people take the time to create different playlists and flip through radio stations to find the “right” songs for the moment. Using music to get the desired headspace is a principle of music therapy. It can also work in everyday life. We recommend you start with music that matches your current mood and then change songs slowly. The last songs you listen to should reflect the mood you want to be in.
3. Create Your Own Music
There are a lot of benefits to playing music, in addition to the many benefits of listening to music. Research shows that music activates almost every part of the brain. This means playing music can be a great exercise for your brain, as your brain makes new neurological connections. But that isn’t all. Doing so can even prevent neurological disorders.
4. Share Music with Others
There are obvious benefits of music when you’re listening or playing with others, some you have probably experienced many times in your life. Music can bring people together physically and emotionally. Believe it or not, there have been studies that show choirs synchronize their breathing and heart rate when singing together.
5. Use Music to Do What you Need to Do
Another one of the benefits of listening to music is how it can help you accomplish a task and stay focused. Want to clean the house? Put on your favorite upbeat songs to encourage yourself to get up and move. Want to get in a powerful workout? Pick out some high-energy and intense songs to listen to and crush it.
Ready to start feeling the benefits of music in your life? denova Collaborative Healthcare has a team of professionals ready to help you live the life that you deserve. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!