Music to the heart

Last time we talked about getting more sleep. Hopefully we’ve all been getting more shut-eye or at least adopting new habits towards meeting that goal. I’ve stopped using the television to help me fall asleep.  It was lights out after light night's episode of “The Closer.”

In addition to a good night’s rest, there are some other ways to help with stress-reduction overall: exercise, meditation, and journaling to name a few. A personal favorite is listening to music. The songs you love are not only pleasing to the ears, but also to the heart.

In looking up the benefits of musical recreation, I found a 2008 study that showed how the thrill you get from listening to upbeat music may have a positive effect on blood vessel function. Turns out the joy of tuning into bubbly tunes like “Sweet Caroline” causes tissue in the inner lining of blood vessels to expand, increasing blood flow. But make sure it’s music that makes you feel good, otherwise, you’re too stressed about how much you hate the song to relax, defeating the whole purpose of musical recreation.

So, when you feel stressed, have a handy playlist of your favorite tunes.  This may not solve the issue that’s causing you to stress or worry, but it may help put you in calmer, clearer state of mind so you can work towards a solution.

Here are a few from my playlist:

Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten

Desree – You Gotta Be

Eric Clapton – Change the World

Beatles - Let it Be

U2 – Beautiful Day

What tunes have helped you through a stressful day?

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

- C.