Tune in to happier health

Do-do-dee-do. Bop-bop-ditty-bop. Sometimes to really hear the music, you need to slow down or stop! Especially if your day includes trying to catch up with the kids between work, school and extra-curriculars, you may neglect to integrate one powerful mood-enhancer into your day…music.

Consider a few ways that music soothes our souls, as discussed on spring.org.uk:

• provides entertainment and social aura
• revitalizes in the morning, calms at night
• provides deeper, thrilling emotional experiences
• distracts from unpleasantness
• helps purge unwanted emotions
• encourages daydreaming and reminiscing
• encourages sharing emotions and experiences, even rekindling lost connections

In fact, music has been proven to reduce depression by up to 25%, according to a paper in the latest UK-based Journal of Advanced Nursing (emedexpert.com).

Studies have also demonstrated how listening to music can lower levels of the stress-related hormone, cortisol, which in excess, can inhibit your body’s immune response. Other studies indicate that listening to music can help reduce blood pressure and recovery times for stroke patients (emedexpert.com). Even during childbirth, many hospitals today enlist music therapy to help the body perform more naturally without as much need for medications.

Did you know that listening to or playing music improves your brain power too? The material being studied activates your left brain while the music activates your right brain. Exercising your whole brain during one activity boosts your learning language, memory, focus and physical coordination (emedexpert.com). It’s no wonder that learning to play an instrument as a child spawns better self-esteem and confidence!

Make music part of your day with one or a few of these suggestions:

• Wake up to euphoric (as determined by you) music to energize.
• Crank up fast or upbeat grooves to get into your workout.
• Sing a favorite song together on your way to drop the kids off, or listen to and critique something new together.
• Pop in the ear buds at work, when it’s time to put your nose to the grindstone on a menial task that doesn’t require interaction.
• Crank up some tunes while you enjoy lunch outside of the office to rejuvenate.
• Drive home to something bold. Let go of frustration through shoulder and hip shakes…keep your hands on the wheel!
• Play funky dance or sing-along music while doing mundane chores.
• Play classical or calming background music depending on your dinner plans.
• Consult your local event web sites for free music concerts, especially during summertime.
• Unwind before bedtime with relaxing tunes to distract your brain and assure a better night’s sleep.

Discover even more ways music can enhance your health both mentally and physically.  And leave it to mashable.com to keep us up to speed on the newest music-by-mood sites.

Tune into music and tune up your health. With today’s technology, excuses are void and opportunities are endless!