Using Music to Help Relieve Stress

Music can be a great tool to help you relax and get rid of the day to day stresses that effect you. It is such a powerful tool that there are even music therapy courses that focus specifically on the subject. For the casual user, it is important to ensure that you choose the right kind of music though to get the most benefit from it.

Many people may believe that loud or fast paced music is not good for relaxation but this is not necessarily true. It could be that you enjoy heavy metal music and that after a dull and boring day working in an office job, getting home and listening to a vibrant track by your favorite artist may be just the thing you need to help you forget the stresses of the day and focus your mind on something else.

Music can bring back both good and unhappy memories so it's best to avoid anything that may remind you of an upsetting or distressing situation. For example, if you remember a track from a friend's funeral then you may associate the feelings that go with that. Focus instead on music that brings back happy thoughts for you.

As well as the more mainstream and contemporary albums available you can also buy CDs that are designed specifically to bring on a relaxed state of mind. This tracks tend to have rhythms that bring your mind into a state of deep relaxation and are popular with anyone who practices yoga or meditation. They can be good for helping you drift off to sleep if you are suffering from insomnia.

The great thing about music for relaxation is that it does not stop you from performing other activities at the same time. There is no reason why you can't simply carry on with some of those chores or tasks you need to accomplish about the home at the same time.

You can use music to wake you up in the morning if you have an alarm clock with a radio or even better, with a ipod built in. You can also listen to music on the way to and from work in the car. This can help relax you for the work day ahead and minimize any stresses you may feel on the road.

So the next time you have some tasks ahead that you feel will cause you some stress, try to see if there is a way you can incorporate music into it to help you relax more.

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Candle Therapy: Relax, Refresh, Energize

There is much talk of aromatherapy and scents. Everywhere you look, scents are being added to product lines. Traditionally, we see them in body lotions, shampoos and other topical skin care products. Even a well-known toothpaste company now makes vanilla and orange scented toothpaste. Big name marketers know the power of scent.

But why are they choosing the scents they do? In simple terms, scents affect our mood and even our physiology. If something makes us feel good or energized, we want that. Right?

More and more you will see scents added to products we use in our homes, in our place of business, and in the stores we shop in. According to the Sense of Smell Institute, office environments may begin to incorporate scents in the work area to increase alertness, attitude, and work performance.

In a world in which our visual & hearing senses are bombarded with stimuli it's great news that our noses will be in for a treat too.

But which scents affect our moods? Among the many scents available, here a few commonly used fragrances and the mood or physiological reaction they have been known to elicit.

Relax with :
Vanilla
Lavender
Sage
Cedar wood


Refresh with :
Orange
Grapefruit
Lemon
Lime
Patchouli
Verbena

Energize with :
Orange
Peppermint

Foster Romance with :
Jasmine
Sandalwood
Rose
Juniper Berry
Patchouli
Cinnamon Buns

Cherish Pleasant Memories with :
Sugar Cookie
Apple
Pumpkin Pie
Fresh Linen
Baby Powder

So grab yourself a candle. Set the mood in your office or home. Relax, Refresh, Energize!

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