As we make the move into winter… with shorter daylight hours and less sociable weather conditions, it is important to remember the things that help to keep our spirits up during these cold, dark months.
There are many of us who struggle through the colder seasons, and scientific evidence suggests that higher production of the hormone melatonin, due to minimal daylight exposure, actually causes lethargy and symptoms of depression.
Most people who have experienced the Winter Blues will be aware of the basic lifestyle habits that can help to alleviate these symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.
It also goes without saying that Music as a remedy to any bleak period in life can work wonders to improve your frame of mind. Studies have officially found levels of the mood-enhancing chemical dopamine to be up to 9% higher in response to periods of peak musical enjoyment.
With this in mind, The Music Rooms has compiled a list of 5 fundamentals to boosting Happiness… with the added benefit of how and why you should incorporate music into these daily practises
#1 Direction & Productivity
Set goals, write lists, be productive either within your career or personal life… listening to classical music or music without lyrics can actually improve productivity, making repetitive tasks more enjoyable. And in noisy open-office environments, music has proven as an escape with overwhelmingly positive results on workload.
#2 Awareness/ Mindfulness
The addition of music to your meditation or mindfulness practise can help you to stay focused, while simultaneously helping you to connect with music as a source of strength and energy. Music can be a powerful way to experience the present moment. Allowing you to dilute your stress levels.
#3 Keeping Active
Health and fitness are common mood boosters. But exercise in either Summer OR Winter can require some serious motivation… and what better way to motivate than by listening to music. Upbeat tempos can also distract the athlete from their bodily awareness, allowing the body to push itself physically further.
#4 Resilience & Bouncing Back
If you’re going through a tough period it can be difficult to see a way through it. When your brain is struggling to switch off and relax… Music, at a very basic level, is an excellent distraction. And at a more advanced level, music as a form of therapy can help you to regain a sense of connectedness emotional awareness.
#5 Trying New Things
Practising and making music can be a more powerful anti-depressant than prescribed medication or even a regular therapy alternative. Keeping the brain active and stepping outside of your comfort zone is another great distraction and the progress and feelings of achievement gained from a new skill such as music are unsurprisingly beneficial for shifting your frame of mind from negative to a more positive focus.
Why not test it out for yourself?! Try listening to upbeat or ‘happy’ music everyday for at least a week and take note of any changes you experience in your mood.
Check out our Music for Happiness playlist. It makes us feel pretty chirpy anyway 😉