When the noise of our ordinary, socially demanding life gets too much, I like to turn on my own noise: music.

A type of noise that helps me self-soothe, something immensely important in the hectic society where we live today.

There's a constant race we compete in, where the ones who fall behind are forgotten. And what does this negligence and stress lead us to? Anxiety.

My Daily 10 Minutes

‘My daily 10 minutes’ is something I have started to incorporate into my schedule. After a long day, I like to sit in a quiet and secluded corner--Surrounded by nothing but silence.

Once I'm sure that my thoughts have stopped racing (thinking about past mistakes, what I should have said in an argument, my future plans), I pop in a pair of comfortable earbuds. Making sure they're snug, I shuffle through a few slow songs on my playlist for 10 minutes.

It's important for me to pick instrumental songs or songs that have a slow beat as it helps me really tune in with my spiritual self, and reflect on a deeper level.

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Understanding My Emotions

Music helps me put a finger on the difficult emotions I feel, which often get lost within my inner turmoil. Sometimes, we don't want to talk it out, and sometimes it's best for someone to talk for us.

In the vast library of music created, I often feel at peace knowing that there's an artist out there who has made something mirroring exactly how I feel right now. It really is a form of human connection and bonding.

Knowing that you can listen to a song and it can translate your feelings for you is especially comforting. I often find that when I listen to sad songs about my exact situation, I feel a sense of comfort, like someone has my back. And that rids me of all anxious thoughts I may have.

Productive Listening

Music gives you an instant dopamine boost. Like many wonderful things in life, such as eating, falling in love, or even sleeping, music can give you that burst of serotonin.

Sometimes, scrolling across videos with a 15-second clip of a song kills our attention span and takes away from the beauty of life. We are meant to be deeply immersed in the things we do, and watching short-form content makes us shallow and takes away from the depth of life.

Listening to a good 3 to 4-minute song not only helps us to feel fully immersed and safe but also feels productive in a way. Spending a whole day bed-rotting doesn't make us feel as anxious once we try to completely lock in and listen to a good song. It really makes us feel like we've accomplished something, which is why I prioritize this little ritual of tuning in to a good song.

A Playlist For Everything

There's a playlist for everything in life.

Anxiety? Music's got you.

There's something so intimately special about connecting with a good song, and isn't the cure to anxiety finding something to hold onto? Finding something solid and real.

"Music is a safe kind of high"

- Jimi Hendrix

I've learnt that music can be that shoulder to lean on, that hand you can hold. To avoid sounding any more cheesy, listen to music. Listen to it passionately; it heals.