Black man and woman with headphones listening to music in expressive dance move. Image credit: Freepik
By: Foluke Akinwalere. Freelance Health Writer. Medical review and editorial support provided by the DLHA Team
Music is more than just a source of entertainment—it’s a powerful tool for enhancing health and wellbeing. From the soothing melodies that calm your mind, to the energising beats that get you moving, music has a heartfelt impact on both your mental and physical states.
When you make music a regular part of your routine, you will discover the positive changes it can bring to your health and wellbeing.
Read on for 10 tips on using music to boost your health and wellbeing.
African woman listening to music with a headphone in the morning. Image credit: Freepik.
Start your day with a playlist of upbeat and motivational songs to boost your energy and mood. This can help you wake up feeling more positive and ready to tackle the day.
This means adding positive, uplifting music to your daily routine from the morning can help you start the day on a positive tone and boost your overall mood and wellbeing one day at a time.
An African student listening to instrumental music while studying. Image Credit: Freepik
Many people discover that music helps them to concentrate while studying and working, while others struggle to focus with any form of background noise.
If you enjoy studying or working with music, there’s no need to stop. Keeping these tips in mind can help you in selecting the most helpful music for your work and study sessions:
A black man listening to music while relaxing on a couch. Image credit: Freepik
Music is effective for relaxation and stress management. A slow-tempo music can quiet your mind and relax your muscles, making you feel soothed while unwinding from the stress of the day. It also helps during meditation.
Just as you began your day with music, consider playing some soothing tunes as you relax and unwind in the evening. Create a calm bedtime playlists to help you fall asleep. This can be a relaxing part of your nightly self-care routine that prepares your body for restful night’s sleep.
An African woman on a treadmill listening to music. Image credit: Freepik
Music distracts people from pain and fatigue, elevates mood, increases endurance, reduces perceived efforts and may even promote metabolic efficiency. When you listen to music, you run farther, bike longer and swim faster than usual - often without realising it.
Develop a high-energy workout playlist. Fast-paced, rhythmic music can increase your motivation and endurance during exercise, making your workouts more effective and enjoyable.
An African doctor listening to music while on short break. Image credit: Freepik.
There is limited research on how music affects workplace satisfaction, but it is reasonable to assume that listening to music may boost satisfaction by influencing emotions and overall wellbeing, among other positive effects. [1]
If space allows, consider creating a small mindfulness corner in your workspace where you go to take a few deep breaths or meditate for a few minutes during your short breaks, listen to a favourite song or two. This can serve as a mental reset, helping you relax and recharge.
An African paint photograher listening to music while engaging with his photographs. Image credit: By Vecteezy, from Freepik.
Music has been shown to stimulate different areas of the brain, including those involved in emotional processing, memory, and creativity. This stimulation helps create new neural connections through a process called neuroplasticity. As a result, interacting with music has been proven to improve cognitive functions like problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative thinking.
Therefore, listening to a variety of musical types (genres) while engaging in creative activities like writing, painting, or cooking can help to broaden your creative horizons, inspiring new ideas and approaches to your work. Different types of music can stimulate your imagination and enhance creativity.
A group of young people bonding with music during entertainment.
Research shows that when people synchronise musically with each other by maintaining the same beat or harmonising, they develop positive feelings towards each other. Surprisingly, this connection can occur even when parties are unable to see each other, like if they are in a different location. While the exact reason for this phenomenon is not fully understood, it is associated with the release of pleasure chemicals, called endorphins, in the brain. [2]
Share playlists with friends and family or create collaborative playlists. This can strengthen relationships and introduce you to new music that you might enjoy.
An African man listening to music with sad emotional expression.
Music is a powerful tool for enhancing your emotional wellbeing, serving as a vital outlet for emotional expression and understanding. By interacting with music, whether through listening or creating, you can convey feelings that may be difficult to put into words.
Use music to process and express your emotions. Whether you’re feeling happy, sad, or anything in between, listening to music that matches your mood can be therapeutic.
A young lady singing and listening to music while mopping the floor. Imgae credit: Freepik.
Make mundane tasks like cleaning, cooking, or commuting more enjoyable by listening to your favourite tunes. Music can make these activities feel less monotonous and more enjoyable.
A black woman dancing to African traditional music during spiritual healing therapy. Image credit: Druzba.
Music Therapy is a professional practice in which therapists use music to address clients’ emotional, cognitive, and social needs. It has demonstrated significant success in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and grief. [3]
Musical therapy is also used extensively by traditional and spiritual African healers in several formats as part their holistic approach to offering healing that addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions of their client’s needs. [4]
This therapeutic approach can significantly reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and alleviate symptoms of depression.
Consider exploring music therapy for deeper benefits. Professional music therapists can help you use music to address specific mental health or physical issues.
A cheerful young black lady listening to music from her headphone.
In conclusion, music is a versatile and powerful tool that can significantly enhance your health and wellbeing. By incorporating music into your daily routine, you can experience benefits such as reduced stress, improved mood, better sleep, and enhanced physical performance. Whether you create personalised playlists, explore different genres, or use music during exercise and relaxation, the key is to find what works best for you. Start experimenting with music today and discover the profound impact it can have on your mind and body.
References
1. Sanseverino D, Caputo A, Cortese CG, Ghislieri C. "Don't Stop the Music," Please: The Relationship between Music Use at Work, Satisfaction, and Performance. Behav Sci (Basel). 2022 Dec 24;13(1):15. doi: 10.3390/bs13010015. PMID: 36661587; PMCID: PMC9855069. Available from: here.
2. Tarr B, Launay J, Dunbar RI. Music and social bonding: "self-other" merging and neurohormonal mechanisms. Front Psychol. 2014 Sep 30;5:1096. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01096. PMID: 25324805; PMCID: PMC4179700. Available from: here.
3. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Music therapy. [Internet. Last edited, April 1, 2024] Accessed June 3, 2024. Available from here.
4. Druzba. Music as medicine: Healing and harmony in African traditions. [Internet. 2024 Feb 2]. Accessed June 7, 2024. Available from here.
Related: How Music Boosts Health and Wellbeing: Mind-Body Benefits
Published: May 9. 2024
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