Playing an instrument can help maintain a healthy body and mind
Running a business can be extremely stressful. Lack of sales, too much debt, not enough money, issues with employees, problems with equipment and operations. All of these factors mean the brain is constantly running. Overthinking can lead to anxiety, insomnia, tiredness, lack of clarity, and all the various health issues related to stress. The pressure of constantly finding a way to grow your bottom line in business can really mount up.
As we will learn, stress management is essential when working in business, if you want to keep a healthy body and mind. You may be surprised to know that learning a musical instrument can be a potent tool to help manage stress in a multitude of ways.
Stress Management
If you want to be successful as an entrepreneur then learning to manage your stress levels and find a suitable outlet is essential. There are a vast number of ways to reduce stress in your daily working life. As you grow your business it can be easy to become negative and focus on the things that are going wrong. Becoming an optimist will completely shift your mindset, putting you far more at ease. A good way to start is by listing all of your accomplishments, big or small, and any business milestones you have reached.
A major cause of stress in business is being inundated by a number of different tasks at once and not knowing where to focus your attention. Ranking your tasks in order of importance, prioritizing your goals, and truly focusing on one thing at a time, will massively decrease your stress levels. If you have a long to-do list, try to prioritize and simply focus on the step in front of you.
It can be hard to separate work and home and to truly switch off once you leave the office. If your brain keeps spinning, you could write down everything that is on your mind. This kind of “brain purge” will help you to clear your mind of the things you don’t need to be thinking about at that moment.
Many people in the business world are workaholics. Remember, it’s crucial to take regular breaks. If you’re stuck on a problem and going around in circles, then something as simple as taking a short walk or a nap could provide the breakthrough you’ve been looking for. Taking regular breaks helps to prevent burnout and keeps your mental state at an optimum level.
Working in the corporate world takes a lot out of you. Remember to prioritize self-care. Don’t forget to do the simple things, like drinking lots of water, getting lots of sleep and regular exercise. Try getting some natural supplements and reduce your caffeine intake. When you’re healthy in body and mind, you have a much greater capacity to handle stress.
Pick Up an Instrument
Besides being a fun hobby that can take your mind off work and give you something else to focus on, playing a musical instrument can also greatly reduce stress. There is a lot of scientific evidence that learning an instrument has a number of benefits.
Suzanne Hanser, chair of the Music Therapy Department at the Berklee College of Music in Boston has said that “Music-making is linked to a number of health benefits for adults. Research shows that making music can lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate, reduce stress, and lessen anxiety and depression. There is also increasing evidence that making music enhances the immunological response, which enables us to fight viruses”.
Along with all these wonderful health benefits, music helps to keep the mind sharp. Evidence suggests that learning an instrument helps to increase your memory capacity and your ability to problem solve.
Many music therapists use music to promote a sense of self in patients suffering with depression and dementia. Finnish music therapist, Kimmo Lethonon, says that “Music has a close relationship with unconscious emotions, which are activated by musical movement. These feelings are so strong, they’re meaningful even if patients cannot remember who they are.”
How Music Helps to Relieve Stress
Playing an instrument at home, or taking lessons, helps with stress management for several reasons. Playing music can help you to be mindful. This means that your senses are sharp and you are fully aware of what is happening in the moment, rather than getting lost in thoughts. Many people use mindfulness meditation, but a task such as learning a new song can work just as well. If you begin to learn mindfulness, you can start to bring it into your work life, in small ways.
Playing an instrument forces you to take time out from the screen. With so many aspects of our lives becoming ever more reliant on technology, people seem to engage less and less with the real world. Excessive screen time is linked with all sorts of harmful effects. As someone working in business, getting away from the virtual world is precious and should be encouraged as much as possible.
As a business owner, life can become isolated and lonely. Music is a very social activity, and socializing helps to reduce stress levels. Music can give you a way to connect with another like-minded folk, and an opportunity to talk about something other than business. You could even become brave enough to start your own band and start chatting about guitar reviews.
In Summary
Entrepreneurs, business owners, and anyone working in the business world have a great deal to think about. There is always more work you could be doing. There are always people you have to please and deadlines to meet. And your financial security is down to you alone.
It’s absolutely vital to learn stress management. This can mean focusing on what is going right, prioritizing tasks, doing regular “brain dumps”, taking lots of breaks, and really remembering to look after your physical and mental health.
There is a ton of scientific evidence which suggests that learning to play an instrument could be a vital tool that can help you to destress. Making music is linked with lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, and less stress, anxiety, and depression.
Learning an instrument means that you will learn to be mindful and aware of the present moment. It will force you to take precious time away from the screen. It can also be great fun, a wonderful social activity, and give you something to talk about that isn’t business-related.
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