A few months ago, I suffered a breakdown. The weight of work, demotivation, and lack of rest came crashing on me and I was left in a rubble of sleepless nights, mediocre work, and a rising pile of deadlines. I was able to acknowledge the mess I was in quickly and began steps to rebuild my life. One of the things that helped me was music.
Music has been a recognized form of therapy and many studies have shown how it can treat pain and reduce stress. Armed with information on the therapeutic benefits of music, I went on a listening binge on Spotify to relax and recenter.
I’m not adventurous when it comes to music and I generally listen to what I’ve been listening to for the past 10 years. According to this website that ranks what I played the most on Spotify in 2017, my top artists are Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Brian Eno, and LUCHS (an ambient producer).
I like my music fast and upbeat, hence my preference for Madonna and Kylie. I also listen to some Gaga, Robyn, Sia, Marina and the Diamonds, and ’90s music. I’ve recently been converted to Dua Lipa and Blackpink, the first K-pop band I enjoyed. Yes, I love pop music.
Strangely, my most listened to list doesn’t feature any musicals, which I also love. I play the soundtracks of Les Miserables, Wicked, Chicago, Newsies, Matilda, and The Book of Mormon on repeat. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed that I cry whenever I listen to strong songs like “One Day More,” “Defying Gravity,” “Revolting Children,” and “Tomorrow is a Latter Day.”
I listen to music to uplift my mood so I don’t listen to sad songs. As much as I would like to get into indie music, I find that many of them are the folksy type that make me feel sad or sleepy. I never got Bon Iver.
Whenever I need to relax, I play classical music. I enjoy listening to Antonio Vivaldi, especially his The Four Seasons. There’s even a TED video explaining how the concerto captures the atmosphere of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Brilliant stuff.
Brian Eno and LUCHS are part of my top five artists for 2017 because they’re part of a Spotify playlist called Sleep that helps me, um, sleep. Their ambient music calms my mind and declutters unnecessary thoughts as I lay in bed. As most anxious people know, it’s when you’re in bed when every negative thought comes crashing down.
Listening to music, turning off all notifications from 6PM to 9AM, pursuing my hobbies, and building relationships have helped me recover. I now feel lighter, happier, and more inspired to work.
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The headphones, speakers, and soundbars are now available in-store and at select retailers.
This story is in partnership with JBL by Harman. For more information, visit the website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.