This post was originally written for the Hamilton Hive, and can be found here.
“You need coooolin’, baby I’m not foolin’…” Sometimes,
stress really does get the best of us. Trust me, I'm the queen of anxiety, I would know. Sometimes, I don’t know how to handle
it, and I know I'm not alone. And I know I'm not alone in being over some of the advice I'm given during stressful situations. Seriously, DO NOT EVER tell me to relax. It's a death wish. And I love when people shrug it off and say "I work out when I'm stressed, it totally helps". That's all well and good, but the reality of it is, I don't always have time for that. When it’s
crunch time, sometimes all you have are five minutes to get your shit together. So
what then?
GET THE LED OUT!
Now, I know this term seems like the exact opposite of
de-stressing, especially because it is most commonly used as a request to speed
things up, but hear me out. Getting the led out is also commonly how fans of
the band Led Zeppelin refer to putting on their favourite album and cranking it
up; rocking the hell out, and losing themselves in those five minutes
of their favourite songs (eight minutes, two seconds if you put on Stairway). And they're on to something. Studies show that
listening to music not only aids in stress relief, but has positive effects on
our moods, and can even improve our memory functions. Most importantly, music
of any genre stimulates brain activity, which aids in productivity. All it takes
is one song to get you going, and it can be applied to any stressful situation, at any job, for music fans of any genre. For example:
You just can't seem to get going: You've already checked your email twice, you're out of new updates on your news feed, you're on your third cup of coffee for the day, and you still can't focus. You've got a fever, and the only prescription is a well-crafted playlist. Studies have shown
that listening to music while performing repetitive tasks increases efficiency.
Listening to music that’s familiar also helps you focus at the task at hand. So
choose some old, up beat favourites at the start of your work day, and get
ready to get things done. Try some
LCD Soundsystem,
Arkells, or
Metric.
You have a clash with
a co-worker or your boss: Nothing helps alleviate tension like a good old-fashioned
sing-a-long. If you’re frustrated with a co-worker or want to avoid a
confrontation with a boss, head to your car on your lunch break. Turn on your
favourite song, turn it up, and rock out. Lose yourself while you’re pretending
to be Debbie Harry, Jack White, or Mick Jagger. You’ll come back feeling relieved
and more confident, and the increase in brain activity will help in discovering
creative ways to resolve conflict.
Led Zeppelin,
The Strokes, and
The White Stripes usually work for me.
You’re nervous before
a presentation or meeting: Everyone has a certain song that makes them feel
invincible. It might be that song that comes on at the end of your run that you
find yourself running faster to. It could be the one that you always play while
getting ready for a night on the town. Before a big meeting, if stress and
nerves are taking over, step back and put on your iPod. Listen to a song you
know will boost your energy and confidence. Like an athlete getting ready to
take the field, you can pump yourself up before you have to perform. I used to listen to
Basement Jaxx before wrestling tournaments in high school, but
Public Enemy and
Refused are also super helpful.
You can’t think of
any new ideas: Ever hear of the
Mozart effect? Well, there’s no better way
to stimulate the brain than by listening to music – it stimulates the parts of
the brains responsible for motor actions, emotions, and creativity. If you’re
having trouble brainstorming, writing, or coming up with new ideas, throw on
something classical, ambient or melodic. It has been suggested that listening
to Mozart can increase the big C’s: creativity, concentration, and cognition. So
turn it on, turn it up, and get those creative juices flowing! Get your
Mozart on, or check out a couple of my other favourites from
The National and
Washed Out.
So the next time you find yourself faced with a mountain of
stress, don’t run and hide. Get the led out! Reach for your headphones and partake
in a little musical therapy. Your brain (and your co-workers) will thank you
for it.
