Loud Music- but be aware of your eardrums

Selfcare Emergency Meter: Pick Me Up
Time Commitment: ~4 min (length of 1 song, or more if you choose)


Loud music... Where to start?  Well, it is an old favorite that I utilize almost everyday.  At home, I use this as much-needed break from studying.  At work or during class, I am able to pop in my headphones during a lunch or bathroom break and release some tension.  It really does "pick me up."  Loud, enveloping music transports me out of the stressful situation I am in, offers me support and delight, then allows me to keep those qualities in order to better deal with the stressful situation when the song ends.


Procedure: Pick a song with an upbeat feel, preferably one with a strong beat and lyrics you can follow along to. Upbeat is crucial because music can have a profound effect on your mood.  Depressing songs (which definitely have their own time and place) will bring you down and make you more susceptible to stress.  I recommend making a playlist ahead of time with tried-and-true feel-good tunes on it (*notice my "Music of the Moment" list along the left sidebar). If you are at home (and alone if you feel more comfortable), stand up and allow yourself to move to the song.  Allow yourself to sing as well.  You may not feel like moving, you may not feel like singing, but TRY!  Engaging your body really helps to expel stress that gets stored in your muscles and bogs you down!


If you are at work or school, the procedure is much more internal (unless the environment is accepting of singing and dancing).  Focus on the beat of the song, notice the different instruments/sounds, and sing along in your head.  Maintain awareness; this is not the same as listening to the radio on your way to work, when you make lists and plans in your head while listening.  Keep your attention on the song and thoughts related to it.  What does it remind you of?  What feelings from the song can you hold onto after the song has finished?
Polite Dance Song by The Bird and the Bee is a song on my list, check it out and you will see that it is relatively gentle, but still upbeat and fun:

Why this is wonderful: It attends to 2 senses: sound and movement.  Ok, "movement" is not a traditional sense.  But, I think of it as a bodily sense.  Most senses deal primarily with your head or hands, but what about the body as a whole?  Movement is important and nourishes the body, so I am including it :)  The song choice itself brings with it happy thoughts and memories that can flip your mood and arm you against stressful events.