In the last few weeks of blogs, we have been talking about Habits of Healthy Surroundings because the environment we build for ourselves has a huge influence over our daily choices. Surroundings, however, can often go unnoticed. Like all habits, they can be so natural and commonplace that they become invisible.
By becoming aware of how our environments can move us closer to optimal wellbeing, we can harness that power to our advantage and accelerate our progress. Music and sound are one of these invisible elements, and they could be your next secret weapon.
For many of us, music is commonplace. Even if you don’t consider yourself a total music fan–the kind who might collect records or regularly attend concerts–you likely have music on your phone and listen to the radio when you take a drive. It’s second nature to have music mixed in throughout our days.
Here’s how you can turn your music listening into boosts for your Habits of Health:
- Dance. This is part of the NEAT System, which is the Habits of Health approach to injecting movement into every aspect of your day, not just your scheduled exercise. If you listen to music that makes you want to bob your head or dance in your office chair, that motion burns calories, and those calories add up!
- More energy. Music is motivating, and it is no secret that the right playlist can make your formal workouts more productive, pumping you up and getting you more excited. You can also join workout classes that specifically use music, like cycling or dance-based programs, to keep your workouts interesting and fun.
- Relax. Part of the Habits of Health is to build a bedtime routine that eases you into sleep. Turn off your phone. Dim the lights. Run a warm bath. All steps that take you out of the momentum of your busy day and prepare your body for rest. Relaxing, soothing music can be a part of this process as well.
- A new hobby. One of the rewards of longevity is more time to dedicate to your passions. Listening to music and being a part of music communities can be a healthy pastime if you focus on the relationships you can make with fellow fans. More than that, you could pick up an instrument and learn to play, activating your mind. And no, it’s not too late to learn!
Is music part of your life? How are you using music to create health in your life? I’d love to hear your story.