On Singing at the Top of your Lungs ...
So I’m a commuter...that means I spend on average 1.5 to 2 hours sitting on my butt on the road 5 days a week. I actually don’t mind it all that much, most days. It is against the real, hardcore traffic and because I have a flexible work place, I can often create my hours so I go to work late, to work later, to then avoid rush hour traffic...
With that said, there are some days where I feel so impatient, that I can actually feel my heart pounding and my blood pressure raising! This is followed by choice words, like ‘This is not time for a f*&^ing Sunday drive’. This is mostly when what I would call indescribably frustrating not-so-good drivers are making me feel unsafe on the road...
So what undoubtedly helps every time?...Putting on a favorite song and singing loud and proud. I’m talking letting loose, seat dancing, heart pumping private concert time. I honestly feel so much better after doing this:
It’s something me and my partner are known to do at home too. Whether one is singing something made up or real, while tidying, etc, it always lightens the mood and causes some silly laughs. Or in the shower, too. I can often hear him rapping in the morning (yup, you read that right. He’s a grown 30 something year old white man who gives ‘er; it’s awesome), and it inspires me to let it out even though I feel ferociously grumpy in the morning...and sure enough, when I hear him goin for it and start myself, I feel a lil less grizzly bear like, and a lil more koala bear like.
Beyond my feel good feelings about signing, I found some clinical research that backs these feelings up. Check in out:
Regular singing can elevate mood, increase immunity and provide a cognitive workout (check out the link below for a more detailed explanation...).
Listening to music you enjoy helps your brain to release more dopamine, a chemical in the brain responsible for pleasure and reward.
Long term, singing strengthens your cardiovascular system (think how your heart pumps blood and disperses oxygen throughout your body, and your ability to breathe-this all improves and functions better overtime).
In one particular study, people experiencing dementia engaged in more history story-telling and had improved short-term memory after a six-week group singing program (this one blew my mind a bit!)
(SingFit by Musical Health Technologies, 2013)
So there you have it-belt it outto better health! It's not only worth it but it's pretty fun, too.
Here are a couple of my car concert favourites. Enjoy!