Discover why listening to songs makes you happier within moments. And hear my 7 suggestions for ways to include more mood-lifting music in your life.
Check out the book that inspired this podcast, THE HAPPINESS UPGRADE: ONE SMALL STEP UP TO A HAPPIER LIFE (available at Amazon) at HappinessUpgradePress.com.
Learn more about the Happiness Upgrade Podcast at HappinessUpgradePress.com.
Follow @HappinessUpgrade on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Welcome to the Happiness Upgrade Podcast. I’m your host, Gabrielle Lichterman.
Want to give yourself a Happiness Upgrade that kicks in within seconds? Listen to music!
For a Happiness Upgrade at home or on the go, turn on songs you love, listen to tunes you haven’t heard in a while or check out songs that are new to you.
Any kind of music you enjoy will help you through a variety of situations, for example, when frustrated (say, when stuck in traffic), bored (like when waiting for an appointment) or stressed out (such as when you’re working).
An added bonus: Music makes fun activities (such as creating art and taking a walk) even more enjoyable.
What is it about music that makes your mood soar?
Scientists have found that hearing songs you enjoy spurs the production of mood-lifting neurotransmitters, including dopamine, endorphins and serotonin, giving you a euphoric sensation.
It also increases the hormone oxytocin, which gives you a warm, loving feeling.
And on top of that, it lowers stress hormones, such as cortisol, so you feel more relaxed.
Researchers from McGill University in Canada say it’s because of the way your favorite songs rouse your emotions. In fact, they discovered that simply anticipating a certain part of a song you enjoy the most is enough to release dopamine in the brain, filling you with pleasure.
This may be why adding music therapy to a treatment regimen has been shown to help improve mood in depressed patients.
And one new study from Hitit (HIT-IT) University and Medipol University in Turkey shows that listening to music can help alleviate depression related to menopause. Since mood changes during this life stage are typically the result of a drop in the hormone estrogen, listening to music can be an easy treatment for those who are looking for a mood boost without taking hormone replacement therapy or other medications, or who want to supplement the treatment they’re currently on.
How can you incorporate this mood-boosting tip into your life this week? Here are 7 suggestions:
1. Carry a portable music player and earphones around with you so you can listen to tunes while shopping, waiting for appointments, commuting or doing other activities on the go. For example, I wear my Bluetooth earpiece and listen to my “liked songs” playlist on the Spotify app on on my phone when I find myself bored while in waiting rooms.
2. Turn on a radio in the car, at work or at home. When you’ve got a few spare minutes, preset your favorite stations, so you can go them instantly, and add new ones just to mix things up.
3. Assemble specific playlists for different activities, such as working, studying, creating art or tackling chores. I personally love listening to grunge while cleaning. Seems like they kinda go together.
4. Enjoy music while walking, running, lifting weights and doing other exercise. Matching the tempo of the music with your workout can help you stay on track.
5. Swap playlists with your friends and family. You may be surprised by what they’re listening to!
6. Listen to covers of favorite songs performed by other musical artists to hear unique renditions. I’m often surprised by how music I love is interpreted differently…and sometimes I like it even better than the original.
7. Check out videos or audio recordings of live performances by your favorite musical artists. There are so many free recordings available on sites like Youtube. And seeing them really helps you appreciate musical artists a whole new way.
Thank you for joining me for another episode of the Happiness Upgrade Podcast. I hope you use the mood-boosting tip I shared in this week’s episode to give yourself a Happiness Upgrade.
To learn a simple method that makes this tip and any other self-care methods even more effective at boosting your mood, pick up the book The Happiness Upgrade: One Small Step Up to a Happier Life by your host, Gabrielle Lichterman, at Amazon.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast. There’s a new episode every Monday.
To learn more about The Happiness Upgrade Podcast, visit HappinessUpgrade.com. And follow me on TikTok, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching @happinessupgrade.
I hope your week is filled with music and happiness!