Feeling anxious about your upcoming move? Put on some music and dance away your worries! In today’s blog, we’ll explore how music can lift your spirits and why your favourite songs make you feel so great. And because we aim to provide top-notch service at Bird’s Moving & Storage, we’ve compiled a selection of energizing music, featuring your favourite throwback jams and karaoke anthems, to help you prepare for a stress-free move. Let’s get started!

How Does Music Affect Your Brain?

Engaging our brain in various activities is key to maintaining brain health, especially as we age. Music, in particular, has been found to have a positive impact on brain health. It activates various regions and networks of the brain, strengthening connections between different parts. These connections range from areas responsible for emotions and well-being to memory and cognition. Moreover, music sparks creativity, which is invaluable for everyday problem-solving.

What Do Studies on Music and the Brain Say?

As a Society, It Connects Us

Researchers suggest that one of the most important roles of music for humans is creating a sense of social connection. Regardless of where we are, music allows us to feel close to each other in ways nothing else can. Whether it’s a shared love for a certain song or artist, music has the ability to communicate even across language barriers. Evolutionary scientists believe humans have come to rely on music as a tool for communication because of our early beginnings as tree-dwellers where we communicated through calls across the treetops. Today, music continues to unite people. National anthems bring crowds together at sports events, lullabies help parents bond with their babies, and love songs allow couples to express their feelings for each other.

As Individuals, it can promote better learning

There are many reasons why people turn to music. But have you ever thought about using it to give your brain a boost? It might sound strange, but doctors at John Hopkins have actually suggested it. And the research shows that just the thought of listening to music can make you more interested in learning. In a study from 2019, people were more excited to learn when they knew they could listen to a song as a reward. However, another study found that listening to music, particularly songs with lyrics, could sometimes make it harder to learn, especially for students with lower working memory capacity. This shows that music isn’t a one-size-fits-all tool for learning. While it may help some, it can hinder others. As listeners, we need to decide if music would be helpful or not in each situation.

It Can Improve Memory

Having trouble remembering things like names and dates? Try listening to music! Research shows that music can help us memorize better. In one study, people were given tasks where they had to read and remember a list of words. Those who listened to classical music while doing this did better than those who worked in silence or white noise. The study also looked at how quickly people could do simple tasks, like matching numbers to shapes, and found that Mozart, yet again, helped participants complete the task faster and more accurately.

It Can Help Treat Mental Illness

Listening to music can have a large impact on the brain. Neuroscientists discovered that when you listen to music, it causes the brain to release different chemicals that affect how you feel. For example, dopamine, which makes you feel good, gets released. It also triggers the release of serotonin, which affects mood, and other hormones related to immunity. Plus, oxytocin, a chemical that helps you connect with others, is also released.

How Does Music Affect Your Brain? Music and Your Mood

Various studies have interviewed people from different backgrounds, ages, and genders to understand why they listen to music. Despite their differences, they share similar reasons, with one of the most common being to manage emotions. Music has the ability to change moods and help individuals process their feelings. The amygdala, a part of the brain responsible for emotions, plays a key role in processing music. That’s why upbeat songs can lift your spirits. Studies on whether music affects the body’s stress response are mixed. Some research suggests that listening to music reduces the release of cortisol, the stress hormone. However, one recent study found that listening to music before a stressful event doesn’t lower anxiety. Yet, soothing music after a stressful event can help your nervous system recover faster.

Music’s Effects on Your Body

Music isn’t just enjoyable; it’s good for your health too! When you start moving to the rhythm, it benefits your heart. Even slower tunes have perks. Studies show that calming melodies can slow your heart rate and reduce your blood pressure. Plus, it gives you an energy boost! Music has a way of making us feel alive, and science backs this up. In 2015, researchers found that soothing music can help reduce tiredness and keep our muscles strong during repetitive tasks. Music can also help regulate our nervous system, which is important with all the stress we face day-to-day. Our nervous system has two modes: “fight or flight” and “rest and digest.” Usually, only one mode is active at a time. “Fight or flight” helps us in tough situations, but it’s supposed to switch back to “rest and digest” once the stress is gone. However, things don’t always go as planned. That’s where music comes in. It can switch on “rest and digest” mode by reducing stress hormones and releasing feel-good chemicals.

Does Genre Matter? Here’s What Studies on Music Say

The relationship between music and mood is significant. The music you choose can have a profound impact on your emotions. Classical ballads can help you relax, concentrate, and remember things better. Jazz music is also great for relaxation, putting your brain in a calm but alert state. This makes it perfect for finding peace during a hectic move or after a tough day. Rap music, with stories of overcoming challenges, can lift your spirits and fight off feelings of sadness. And if you’re into heavy metal, studies show it can boost your confidence and sense of self.

20 Energizing Songs for a Fun, Stress-Free Move

Prepare for your upcoming move with the power of music! We’ve hand-selected some tunes at Bird’s Moving & Storage to make your May move less stressful and more enjoyable. Be warned: this playlist may inspire some embarrassing dance moves and singing, but hey, you’re moving anyway, right?

1. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
2. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
3. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Tammi Terrell & Marvin Gaye
4. Just What I Needed – The Cars
5. We Are Family – Sister Sledge
6. The Final Countdown – Europe
7. Celebration – Kool & the Gang
8. No Sleep Till Brooklyn – Beastie Boys
9. We Are the Champions – Queen
10.  Send Me on My Way – Rusted Root
11.  Grace Kelly – MIKA
12. Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
13. Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac
14. Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) – Billy Joel
15. Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader
16. Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
17. I’m So Excited – The Pointer Sisters
18.  SOS – ABBA
19. This is How We Do It – Montell Jordan, Wino
20. Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys

Ensure a Stress-Free Move with Bird’s Moving & Storage

Moving house stress-free is a breeze with Bird’s Moving & Storage and some energizing music. Whether it’s pop, jazz, or your songs from the playlist above, music can help reduce the panic you feel when surrounded by boxes, packing tape and labels. To get set up with our professional team of movers, and packers if needed, simply reach out to us. We’d be more than happy to discuss the specifics of your relocation and get you started on a stress-free moving journey. Contact us today to connect with one of our moving consultants.