Wellness: Stress Relief Songs
April is Stress Awareness Month, and what better way to decompress than with your favorite song? According to the University of Nevada, Reno, “music can have a profound effect on both the emotions and the body,” adding that “Native American, Celtic, Indian stringed-instruments, drums, and flutes are very effective at relaxing the mind even when played moderately loud.”
We asked the Nonotuck community what their go-to song for stress relief is, and the results were amazing. If you’d like your song included, email Jannelle Robinson (robinson@nonotuck.com) and Joshua Murray (murray@nonotuck.com)!
Nikki Cannici, Care Manager
I’m trying to think of my go-tos for stress-relieving tunes. There are soooo many it’s hard to narrow it down. These two stand out as tunes that join me in my emotions and make it a little easier to breathe:
Buckethead: Coupon - Pike #234
Thomas Carey, Care Manager
Jon Batiste - FREEDOM. Because it just hits the right spot! Watching the video is also a must.
George H. Fleischner, President & CEO
“Everyday People”. Sly and The Family Stone. Fifty years old, timeless song with a great message. The song get me out of a funk and I either want to break out my soft shoe or actually get down with a little Ski Mask, Whole Shack Shimmy or the Swag.
Ryan Gaw, Accounting Manager
“Freddie Freeloader” by Miles Davis: A quintessential jazz track from what many consider the greatest jazz record of all time, Kind of Blue. It’s a soothing, nearly 10 minute escape featuring contributions from an All-Star sextet including legends, Bill Evans, “Cannonball” Adderley, John Coltrane, and of course the man who personified the word cool, Miles Davis.
Arthur Jones, Placement Specialist & Developer
Bobby McFerrin- “Don’t Worry Be Happy”
Kimberly Kell, Registered Nurse
My favorite song right now to listen to for stress relief is currently Daughtry “Renegade”. I love to have the windows open in the car and just take off to this song. It is very therapeutic for me.
Joshua Murray, Marketing Coordinator
I am by no means a passionate Taylor Swift fan, but “Shake It Off” seems to have been grown in a lab with the sole purpose of reducing stress. Everything about it— from the bouncy beats to the breezy delivery—makes me feel a little bit lighter at that moment; “shake it off” indeed!
Julia Pitre, Registered Nurse
My stress relief song is “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” the Randy Newman version. I love the Toy Story movies and I have 4 lifelong friends that I don’t get to see often, but when we do it is like no time has passed. When I am stressed and missing simpler times when I was carefree with my friends this song reminds me and gives me a smile in my heart!
Linda Reid, Accounts Receivable Clerk
“September” by Earth, Wind, and Fire
Jannelle Robinson, Wellness Coordinator
“After the Storm” by Mumford and Sons is such a beautiful song that gives hope during hard times. I love listening to it when I am doing yoga!
Carla Sanchez, Program Director
"Happy" by Pharrell Williams is such a good feel song! It really does make a stressful situation better. I promise you even if you're upset, you'll be clapping along with the song by the end.
Maureen Smith, Care Manager
Tim McGraw - Humble And Kind. When thinking about a song with a great message, it is this one by Tim McGraw, the message of love, to love and be loved, it’s a calming song !
Dough Watts,
The Grateful Dead’s “Bird Song,” written for Janis Joplin.
Dan Zimmerman
I break two ways on this. When I need some musical stress relief and need to bring things down a few notches and plug myself back into the source of my strength, I often choose Van Morrison. “Listen to the Lion” is an incredible song that reminds the listener of one’s inner strength and reminds us that, yes, it’s in there!
When I just need to “shake it off” and listen to something that’s viscerally satisfying, I go back to some of the hard music of my youth and tap into a little AC/DC or Parliament Funkadelic, Queen or Led Zeppelin! One old reliable is Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now”, a song that reminds me to cut loose every once in a while, dance like an idiot and stop caring what the hell everyone else might think of me!: Queen - Don't Stop Me Now.
