Many people neglect to think about their mental health when they are dealing with everyday stress, sadness, and anxiety. Unfortunately, studies have shown that high levels of stress can have a negative impact on physical and mental wellbeing. One of the most effective ways to relax, reduce stress and improve mental health is through listening to music. Music has a unique ability to sooth our nerves and provide a sense of comfort and relaxation.
Music helps shift our moods and influences our behavior and emotions. It has the power to refresh our minds and emotions, lift our spirits, and provide a sense of well-being. People listening to relaxing music often report improved moods and feelings of contentment, joy, and relaxation. It can also be used to enhance more positive feelings like confidence, courage, and optimism.
Music has been known to help reduce stress. When dealing with a stressful situation or environment, listening to calming music can reduce the cortisol levels in your body, which is a hormone released during times of stress. Listening to calming music can also lower your heart rate and blood pressure, leaving you feeling calmer and more relaxed.
When choosing music for mental health benefits, opt for music with slower tempos and tempo changes. Slower tempos, particularly anything between 60 and 80 beats per minute, have been shown to have calming and relaxation effects. Instrumental music can be especially effective for reducing stress, quieting the mind, and allowing the listener’s body and mind to relax.
Music can also be used to manage anxiety. Through repetition and emphasizing certain instruments, it can effectively distract us from our thoughts and worries. For people experiencing extreme anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder, repetitive classical music can help reduce the severity of symptoms.
Playing or listening to music can also enhance our cognitive abilities and creativity. Music can improve our spatial reasoning, our problem-solving skills, and our ability to think creatively. Music with a steady and repeating tempo, like classical, can also improve our working memory and make it easier to concentrate on a task.
When it comes to our mental health, music can be an incredibly effective tool. Slow-tempo music or instrumental music can help to relax the body and mind, reducing stress, and allowing us to gain perspective on our thoughts and feelings. Music also enhances cognitive abilities and creativity, leading to improved problem-solving skills and creative thinking. Make sure to take a few moments each day to relax with some calming music to give your mental health a boost.