Summit Wellness: Coping With Holiday Stress - How Music Can Be Your Lifeline
By Sarah Swirsky - Summit FM Wellness Coordinator
The holiday season is a time of celebration, but it can also bring stress, overwhelm, and emotional exhaustion. Between endless to-do lists, financial pressures, and complex family dynamics, it’s easy to feel like the joy of the season is slipping away.
One often-overlooked tool for managing holiday stress is music. The power of music goes beyond entertainment—it can be a grounding force that soothes the mind and uplifts the spirit.
Here’s how you can use music to navigate holiday stress:
- Create a Calm Playlist
Set aside time to create a playlist of songs that help you relax. Slow tempos, soft melodies, or instrumental tracks can calm your mind and help you feel more centered. When holiday chaos strikes, press play and let the music guide you back to balance.
- Turn Stress into Movement
Dance it out! Whether it’s to a holiday classic or your favorite pop anthem, moving your body to music is a great way to release pent-up stress. It’s a mood booster that requires no special equipment—just a willingness to let go and enjoy the moment.
- Sing Your Heart Out
Singing isn’t just fun—it’s a natural stress reliever that activates the vagus nerve, a key player in calming your nervous system. The vagus nerve helps regulate your body’s stress response, and singing stimulates it through controlled breathing and vocal vibration. This can lower your heart rate, reduce anxiety, and create a sense of calm. Whether you're caroling with friends, humming a holiday tune, or belting out songs in the shower, singing can help you feel more relaxed and grounded. Plus, it’s an easy way to tap into joy and connect with others during the holidays.
Music is more than just sound—it's a way to express emotions, release tension, and build connection. Whether you’re unwinding with a serene melody or coming together with loved ones for a sing-along, let music be your companion during the holidays.
This season, take a break from the hustle and bustle, tune into The Summit FM, or find other ways to listen, including our new mindful music streaming channel, Wavelengths, available on our free app.
Summit Wellness wishes you a harmonious holiday season filled with health, connection, and music.