Music for Reconnecting
Reconnect: to re-establish a bond of communication or emotion.
We all have an intrinsic human desire for connection. Feelings of isolation and disconnection continue to impact many people across all areas of the world. Perhaps for you, these feelings are fleeting, appearing in the most insignificant of moments. For some they are all-encompassing, filtering through into the smallest of daily interactions.
No matter where you sit on the scale, or where you live in the world, music can be there for you - with you - in any moment you choose. Here are a few ideas of way to interact with music that may give you some inspiration towards incorporating music as an intentional agent in your own mental well-being:
Listen to your favourite song
Research has shown that listening to music has the capacity to act as a 'social surrogate', providing a source of engagement and connection in times of loneliness. Lyrical content may offer words of encouragement, empathy, and understanding that are open to interpretation by the listener. If you've ever turned to music in times of distress, you may have experienced some of the stress-relieving qualities music has been found to have on the body such as production of oxytocin and dopamine, reduced heart rate and physiological symptoms of anxiety. Such a simple act may offer far more than just an enjoyable listening experience.
Create a playlist
In 2020, Australian adults spent an average of 13.3 hours per week streaming online music services - that's nearly two hours a day! These platforms have rapidly increased our accessibility to music, not to mention altered the way we listen to music. Playlist creation is a technique used by Registered Music Therapists to target a variety of health-related goals, though playlist creation is an accessible tool for anyone. Streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music make it easy to categorise your music, and easy to collaborate with your friends or loved ones on shared playlists as a means of virtual connection when physical connection is not possible. Songs hold much meaning and many memories, that can be shared through one of your streaming platforms at no cost, across many miles or social media platforms. Playlists can also be used as a point of connection with a friend or family member.
Meditate to music
Another way to use music to reconnect is through meditation. Meditation is a practice that can help you focus and connect with your inner thoughts and feelings. When you're meditating with music, it can help to further relax and calibrate the body, and cultivate added opportunity connect with yourself. If you're having trouble meditating on your own, there are many guided meditation apps and websites that can help you get started. Some of our favourites are Smiling Mind (https://www.smilingmind.com.au) and Calm (https://www.calm.com).
Sing a song
Singing has a range of health benefits; mental, physical and emotional. It can help reduce stress, improve your mood, boost your immune system, and even reduce level of perceived pain. As well as being a great solo activity to include in your daily activities, singing is a great way to connect with others. Whether you’re singing along with a friend, in a choir, or at a karaoke bar, singing is a social activity that can help you feel more connected to those around you. You can even find opportunities online to engage in live singalongs or live streamed performances that you can sing along with from the comfort of your own home. If you’re feeling disconnected from your friends and family, try reconnecting through music. Singing together can help you feel more connected and bonded with those you care about.
I hope that this blog post has given you a few ideas of how to incorporate music as a way of reconnecting to yourself and with others, and a chance to consider the role music already plays in your life.
References & further reading:
Baumeister, Roy F.; Leary, Mark R. (1995). "The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation". Psychological Bulletin. 117 (3): 497–529. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.117.3.497. ISSN 0033-2909. PMID 7777651.
Lieberman, Matthew D (2013). Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199645046. OCLC 913957686.
Saarikallio, S., Gold, C., and McFerran, K. (2015). Development and validation of the healthy-unhealthy music scale. Child Adolesc. Mental Health 20, 210–217.
Schäfer K, Saarikallio S, Eerola T. (2020). Music May Reduce Loneliness and Act as Social Surrogate for a Friend: Evidence from an Experimental Listening Study. Music & Science. doi:10.1177/2059204320935709
Stewart J, Garrido S, Hense C and McFerran K (2019). Music Use for Mood Regulation: Self-Awareness and Conscious Listening Choices in Young People With Tendencies to Depression. Front. Psychol. 10:1199. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01199
#connectionthroughmusic #musictherapy #musictoreconnect #musiclistening #singing #playlists #musicandmeditation
