Christmas songs, carols, or whatever you want to call them may have taken over your favorite radio station. They’re certainly being played in grocery stores.
And if the shopping malls and retail stores are still open in your neighborhood, you’re surely hearing them there too.
If you enjoy these sounds, it could be doing a lot for your health. And if you can’t stand them, it’s still not all bad: listening to any music you like can be healthful too.
Music might help relieve stress, anxiety, and lead to better emotional and physical health.
Holiday music might take you to a happy place. The familiar songs can remind you of good times and help take your mind off of stressful events.
Don’t worry if holiday music isn’t your thing—any type of music can have the same effect.
Music therapy is used to treat symptoms of several conditions. Its potential benefits include:
- Lower stress
- Mood regulation
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower cholesterol
- Pain management
- Better sleep
- Lower risk for coronary artery disease
Enjoyable music can provide a brief escape from a stressful situation or those periods when your mind just won’t slow down. Taking a break may help you re-center and restore a lower heart rate and calm the physical manifestations of stress.
Using music to help you get through stressful periods can be helpful, especially through this pandemic holiday. It doesn’t really matter what type of music you choose, as long as you like it and it makes you feel good.
Music has been a healer for many during the pandemic. There is a growing body of anecdotal and scientific evidence of the various ways it can help. This season, use your ears to help calm your nerves, ease stress, and more.
Just be sure to listen at a reasonable volume.