Music: Helpful Routines

When music is embraced as an essential part of daily life, all types of benefits occur. For example, children with autism can focus better and feel less stressed during “hot button” times, if music is introduced into the scenario. Seniors with dementia might feel calmer when bedtime includes songs they know and love—thereby giving them a night of more restful sleep and a more peaceful day after it.

People of all ages who experience anxiety or sensory overload are able to relax when music with a strong, steady beat is playing in the background. (Know when those stressful times are coming? Put on a song that makes you want to get up and march around, like this one! )

On the other hand, when people feel especially stressed by a noisy environment (or the “noise” going on inside their brains…something we’re all too familiar with!), soothing music without lyrics takes the stress response down a notch. Need to try it now? Here’s an example.