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Using Music to Reduce Stress The other day as I was getting ready to play at a facility one of the residents said to me: "I'm so glad you're here. The staff is having a really bad day and they need to take some time to listen to you!" We all know what it's like to have a bad day - too many meetings, scheduling conflicts, road construction; in general, life getting in the way of what we have planned. While we may not have control over the circumstances causing stressful situations, we can make deliberate choices in how we react to the stress. Music is known for its ability to reduce stress levels. It is reported that when listening to calming music the level of stress hormones in the blood significantly declines and the level of endorphins is raised. Muscle tension is reduced, and heartbeat, pulse and blood pressure respond accordingly to the music being played. So, what's calming music? It's whatever relaxes you! This will be different from person to person, and even with the same person, it may vary from day to day. In general, relaxing music will:
What music do I listen to in order to reduce stress and relax? Sometimes I listen to ambient nature music, sometimes Classical, and sometimes there's nothing like Charlie Daniels playing 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia' to help me relax and unwind. As I'm writing this I'm listening to The Dixie Chicks. No matter what genre of music you prefer, you'll be able to find a tune or two to help you put the stress of the day behind you, relax and bring a smile to your heart! Contact Janet Roper at 952-474-8273 or janetroper@mac.com to bring relaxing music into your facility with a performance, or to find out more about using music to reduce stress.
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