3 Ways Music Can Boost Your Mood (or Reinforce it)

Scientists are learning more everyday about the impact that music has over our moods, wellbeing, and motivation. A song can just as easily make us sad as it can make us happy.  Here are three ways you can use music to boost your mood.

Sing in the Shower

Or anywhere - sing in your car, at karaoke, or at a concert. The physical activity of singing connects you to the music and reverberates throughout the body. Performing music also brings you into the present by allowing you to just focus on what you are singing. An article in the International Journal of Yoga, talks about how 'OM' chanting affects nerve stimulation - Who is to say that when we sing a similar effect doesn't happen?   Neurohemodynamic correlates of ‘OM’ chanting: A pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Create a 'Happy' Playlist

When you are feeling a little down or the weather outside is dreary, play some of your favorite tunes. If you don't have a good mood playlist put together, you can create one on Spotify or here are a couple of links to other people's lists to get you started. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/05/happy-music-playlist_n_4730218.html

http://8tracks.com/fangirlist/come-on-get-happy

https://www.stereomood.com/mood/happy#

Focus on the Mood You Want 

May sound too simple, but a recent study (Trying to be happier really can work: Two experimental studies) shows that happiness can be improved in as little as two weeks just by thinking about being happier. Specifically while listening to happy music. The study (link above), said that the participants who actually were thinking about being happier while listening to positive music, showed improvement in mood. However if listening to lower tempo music while trying to improve mood, there wasn't a positive change in the mood.