Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring

In just one week we will finally be able to kiss our winter blues goodbye (at least in the literal sense).  Who knew we would be getting snow storms well into March? With all the school closings, delays, cancellations, etc., people in many regions have been in emergency mode to deal with all the weather.  Can you imagine how it must feel to be under such stress and pressure, but with little to no control over the situation? For many of our clients, that is how they feel and live their lives on a daily basis.  All that being said, how does this relate to music?

Music can be used to bring a sense of calm and stability to situations that seem unstructured and stressful.  

Whether it’s using a song as a motivator to begin a task or singing the “Clean-Up, Clean Up” classic from Barney as a prompt to remind your kids that their chores haven’t stopped just because they have a snow day, music provides a fantastic transition into new beginnings.

In this list, I’ve provided some things that you can try in your own home/office space/classroom throughout the day.

• Create a playlist: Playlists can be used for a variety of purposes.  Just as we transition through seasons, music has a great way of helping us transition through all the changes and stressors that occurs on a hourly, daily, monthly, and seasonal basis.  Whether you are a child or an adult, one transition that just never seems to get easier with time is getting ready in the morning.  When mother nature comes in and gives you a few days off, it can be hard to get back to that set routine.  By having a playlist and a set of songs to get ready to, not only are you creating a time limit in which you can get ready, but you are still allowing yourself to enjoy something you love (a great list of songs).  This is something my parents started with me when I was younger (especially during showers when I lost track of time) and I still use to this day.  As music is a natural time-keeper, you can create a playlist with songs that are tailored to the theme of the chore being completed, but you can have the playlist end when the said routine should be completed .
• Music and relaxation: With all that is going on in the world today, it is very easy to get caught up and become stressed.  It is just as easy to use music to calm and counteract that stress.  Do you know how many countries have siestas (afternoon breaks)? By using music and relaxation in your own midday or afternoon exercise, you can create your own personal “siesta” that can make that midday transition just a little easier.
• Movement and music: We are so close to the end of winter, but that doesn’t mean we are out of the dark when it comes to bad weather.  Being cooped up in the house makes all of us at risk for not getting enough Vitamin D (no sunlight), not getting enough exercise, and engaging in overeating and all the things that can in turn make for a more difficult transition into Spring.  Moving to music – whether it be at a Zumba class, a home workout dance tape or an impromptu dance session is a great way to release stress and get moving!

As we make the transition from Winter to Spring, I invite you to try some of these ways to deal with the transitions that occur in your life.  Allow music to guide these changes and share your journey!