Traveling across country or internationally can be a challenge, especially if you do not have a way to keep yourself busy. During a long flight, you can read books or magazines, watch movies, sleep (or attempt to sleep), or listen to music to make your journey go faster. Not only will music make time fly, it can help calm you, energize you, or keep you entertained at the very least.
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How Music Affects You
Researchers Suvi Saarikallio and Jaakko Erkkilä conducted a recent study examining the effects of music on a person’s mood. Based on the results, there are seven definitive ways music can affect a person’s mood: entertainment, revival, strong sensation, diversion, discharge, mental work, and solace.
If you find yourself stressing over flying or travel worries, music can keep your mind occupied and divert your attention elsewhere. Music provides a pathway down memory lane and promotes daydreaming. Aside from travel distraction, music also allows emotional release, can calm or arouse, and can provide peace.
Choosing Your Playlist
Before booking one of the many flights available through with tickets, take time to program your portable music device with a variety of music relative to the reason of your travels. Since music comes from the deep emotions of the writers and musicians that create it, it is only natural that you would experience personal and emotional ties to certain songs.
- If you are traveling for a funeral of a loved one, a playlist reflecting the good times you had together can help remind you to celebrate life, as well as, mourn your loss.
- A first-time, friends-only getaway is exciting; foster the excitement and joy by selecting songs you frequently associate with this specific group of friends.
- Long-time separations from a lover can be painful, but reuniting is splendid. Reminisce earlier times with your favorite songs, and hopefully you will have a few new tunes to remind you of this occasion.
You may consider loading your portable music device with a variety of tunes that can be categorized based on your mood during travel.
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Benefits of Music
Aside from occupying your time, releasing tension, and its calming affects, there are additional benefits to cranking up your favorite tunes.
- Stimulating music played during your morning run results in increased workout effectiveness while solemn tunes will have the opposite effect.
- Frequent enjoyment of your favorite songs can also result in a reduction of chronic pain. Music exposure has also been linked to higher intelligence and better test scores.
- Further, a great band can build a bridge between you and other people you meet, knocking down barriers that would have remained otherwise.
Before, during, and after your travels music can enhance your life in many different ways.