Certain genres of lyric-less music, like classical and ambient, are historically the subject of most research studies into music and stress. While there’s evidence that they can reduce stress and anxiety, that doesn’t mean they’re “better†than other genres of music. Ongoing or chronic stress can lead to developing an anxiety disorder, depression, chronic pain, and more. Music has been widely studied and revered throughout human history for its ability to both entertain and heal.
Harmony with others could start with the harmony in music, according to new research. A study published in the journalAging & Mental Healthin 2014 found that among those with dementia, music served as a tool to feel connected to others because the subjects could listen to and discuss the music together. Family members connected to the study also acknowledged the communal aspects of musical connectedness, whether it was through singing songs together, participating in music therapy sessions, or listening to a visiting violinist.
He composes tonal music that is full of emotion and color, with reassuring repetition. Many different types of music are very effective at relaxing the mind, including drums, flutes, Celtic, Indian stringed, and Native American. At the very least, music serves as a distraction from the stressors of our lives. Beyond that, music helps us explore our emotions, which makes music a great aid to meditation.
The way you see the world and the type of self-talk you habitually use can also have a profound effect on your stress level, which is why positive affirmations that create more positive self-talk are so helpful. Keeping a simple, organized home can really help to cut down on your stress level, but cleaning itself is a chore that many busy people don’t have the energy to face after a long day. However, if you throw on some energetic music (hip-hop or pop, for example) you can raise your energy level and have fun as you clean. If you put on some smooth jazz or a similar genre of music that you enjoy, cooking becomes a fun activity rather than a chore.
If you’re listening to a Bach sonata in a room blazing with lights, or with your face in a computer screen, you not likely to get the sleep-inducing effects of the music in the background. Make sure the rest of your nightly routine and environment is soothing, calm, and dimly lit. I encourage my patients to flip on some relaxing music for the last 30 Deep Sleep Music or 45 minutes of their Power Down Hour.