Daylight hours are dwindling in the Northern Hemisphere, which means we have less opportunity to benefit from the mood-boosting effects of sunshine. Luckily, we almost always have access to music, which can also elevate mood. In 2011, a McGill University study reported that music releases the brain chemical dopamine, a neurotransmitter generally associated with rewarding activity.
The study says that dopamine levels were up to nine percent higher when volunteers were listening to music they enjoyed. My suggestion is to take it even one step further: why not create a special MP3 playlist or burn a CD of the songs that always conjure up a happy memory or bring a smile to your face? Identify the melodies that are most powerful for you and use them to your mental health advantage!
I’m an iTunes and iPhone user, so I’ve started a good mood playlist called Anthems. I’ve been building it for about six months, and every time I hear a song on the radio or when I’m out somewhere and I notice it makes me happy, I write it down and add it to my playlist later. It’s got things like Paul Simon’s Kodachrome, Melanie’s Brand New Key and the ridiculously infectious Michael Franti & Spearhead song Say Hey.
While we’re at it, I may as well tell you about my favorite good mood + confidence boost elixir, for the days when you require a little extra mental health support. In an MP3 clip that’s less than two minutes, Danielle LaPorte delivers oodles of dopamine-releasing nuggets in the Credo for Making it Happen. Need a pep talk that’s genuine and authentic? Have a listen.
Finally, the flip side of the coin: some music can be a mood killer, and if you’re already feeling a bit blue, then those are the songs you may want to skip over for a while. Definitely don’t play them four thousand times in a row, like I did with The Tragically Hip’s Long Time Running after I’d been dumped once. It really doesn’t help. Granted, listening to an anthems-type playlist could be a bit of a stretch for you at times, but at least work your way back to a neutral starting point… maybe that’s why elevator music was created?
Do you have a song (or songs) that get your dopamine cranking? Share them in the comments and help everybody build their playlists!
I completely agree about the power of music to lift your mood. ELO’s Mr Blue Sky got a lot of airtime in our car this summer when England had dismal weather, bringing us all down, and just hearing the distinctive first few beats makes me smile with anticipation. And although I agree that it can be a bad idea to play a tear-jerker when you’re feeling low, it can also sometimes be incredibly therapeutic to listen to songs that allow you to give life to feelings that you’re trying to keep hidden inside.
When my first husband died 12 years ago of an aggressive form of leukaemia after a very short illness, I was working in a girls’ school where there were regular lunch time concerts. I always went gone to every concert to support and encourage the girls, but one of the songs that was included in practically every concert was “Can’t Help Loving That Man of Mine”. For a while, the girls had to get used to seeing me sobbing silently at the back of the room whenever one of them sang it. It would have been easy to have left the room or to just skip the concerts while my emotions were so raw, but boy, did those concerts, and the permission they gave me to cry, help me through that difficult time. I never did buy a CD of it to play at my leisure though!
What a powerful story, Debbie. Thank you for sharing it, and for introducing the idea of music as a tool to help the grieving process.
I can’t believe I don’t have any ELO on my playlist yet, but will certainly be adding some now. They’ve got some really fun songs!
So cool that you wrote about this. I was just having a conversation with a client about how bands and their lyrics save lives. I think there is a blog post there for me too. I’ll link to this one.:)
And I also find singing in the car does a world of good. Thanks for stopping by, Jodi, and I look forward to reading your post!
ohhh good idea.. I need something to play in my van, which for the time being means I have to burn onto an old fashioned CD (well, I’ll have to ask my other half b/c that’s a blue job in our home)…but you’ve motivated me b/c I’m constantly switching radio stations, skipping songs on the cds I do use….my list will include Sarah McClaughlan, Mae Moore – Bohemia, AC/DC – Hells Bells (it must awaken a happy old brain cel!), & Adam Sandler’s Wedding Singer might not be the happiest song but ALWAYS makes me giggle out loud.. Thanks, as always, for an inspiring post 🙂
PS I’m curious if by writing you mean pen & paper or ‘writing’ in your iPhone….
“A blue job” – LOL! Aw, Mae Moore, that’s a name I hadn’t thought of for a long time. I like her. You’ve got quite a swing there from Bohemia to Hells Bells. And by writing, I literally mean scribbling on a scrap of paper I find in the bottom of my purse. What, you can write on iPhones? hahaha. I need to use my phone more. Thanks for making me laugh, April!
PS love your new home page photo!
Thanks, it’s just a stock image supplied by WordPress but I like that it has movement (and the other one didn’t). And now I just tweaked my background to match the trolley car so it’s a whole brighter look!
Love this post. And I love Melanie’s Brand New Key! (Still have a 45 somewhere…) Occasionally I remind myself to break from habit and spend my morning commute listening to a favorite playlist on my iPod. I love listening to NPR, but the music always gets the day off to an energetic start. Good advice. 🙂
You have a 45? That is awesome. Thanks for visiting, Diane. xo
Music has always been my saving grace and has kept me sane during some very insane times. At over 6,000 songs and counting in my iTunes library, there’s always a playlist to be made that can suit most any mood. Even with the advent of Pandora, etc. I still love to own the music I listen to.
P.S. Like the new look of the blog… it’s been a couple of weeks since I dropped by.
I am so there with you! And hey, I want access to your iTunes library! My hubby’s collection is also extensive, and I can stream from it when I’m on my computer, at least.
Thanks for the blog feedback, just did a couple of easy tweaks. I’d really like to jazz it up but as you know, that takes time!
I agree! But people say it’s something wrong with me since I usually get my dopamine from this kind of music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwnabBWBbo8
But I also like the darkness outside now too so I guess I’m made for my beloved Northern Hemisphere. 🙂
Fair enough, Geir, I mean, I wouldn’t have pegged you as a Sound of Music kind of guy anyway. And as for living in the very north of the Northern Hemisphere, all I can say to that is better you than me, bud. Better you than me. Enjoy your dark winter!
Sometimes I keep listening to the same song for hours and even days. The one I have been listening to now for the last 3 days is a very sad song, but it is helping me a lot. It’s called Why- Rascal Flatts
Glad it’s helping, Nikky. There’s a comment below from Debbie about using sad songs to help work through emotions. I guess I do that, too, but only for ‘special events.’ But whatever works, right? Thanks for stopping by!
Will do ASAP, Laura. Excellent post! Gosh, I have to get an Ipod. The only thing I have that’s close is my Walkman that plays cassettes! (don’t judge me!). Blimey, crikey….it’s time to move and groove with the times. I certainly have anthems :))
Seriously? Oh wait, no judgment. Heeeheee. I guess the up side is you can bypass the whole Discman era.
Guilty Pleasure: Shania Twain.
Catch: While alone in my car!!!
Patricia
Ah-ha! I bet you sing along, too! Thanks for stopping by, Patricia.
I know a lot of people love to hate ’em, but when I cue up U2’s Joshua Tree, it lifts my spirits every time. Great post, Laura. There’s so much power in music to help us shift our emotions–in one direction or another.
Oh yeah, the old U2 just takes me back so I’m with you, Kern!
Anything by Genesis keeps me sane till the sun comes back, although lots of MOR rock will do just as well. You know, a nice tune to hum, lyrics that tell a story. I’m not a fan of Apple products, but I do have an ipod nano which is small and holds 400 songs (it’s a few years old now), and I don’t know where I’d be without it. To recommend one track, “Turn it on again” by Genesis, as it reminds me that the work just has to be done 🙂
AH, I love that Genesis song. You’ve really helped me to ‘re-appreciate’ them over the last year.
So as long as there’s music in your life, you’re a happy man. I concur. Could not imagine a world without it.