Music is very pleasant – even for those who are not particularly fond of it. It has the ability to relax the mind and body as well as generate positive energy. Music, as some studies show, increases the production of serotonin, which is responsible for the feel-good sensation in you. This is why many workplaces where they have strenuous work, introduced soft-playing background music. The results were amazing even when improvements were expected. Productivity went up by a huge margin and absenteeism came down. The inter-collegial relationship improved and overall the atmosphere of these workplaces improved considerably. As a direct result of these changes, staffing turnover also came down and with it the cost in training and orienting personnel in their jobs.

There is no special music associated with relaxation. What works with you might not work as well with another – so there are no rules or specifications here. There is no particular level of noise attached to it either. Some people find the drums (the louder the better) relaxing, some find violin or piano, some would rather enjoy a quiet classic symphony, while other would prefer hard rock. Anything goes, as long as you find it relaxing and pleasing to your ears. Themes also help sometimes. You would find at times that the lyrics of the song along with the music create a wonderful scene for you – tie it up with the visualization exercise. Be open and look for the combinations that work for you best. As I said earlier, there are no rules other than the fact that it should make you happy and relaxed.

In order to get the most out of the music de-stress technique, use the following steps:

1. Identify your type of music – take your time and choose the music that makes you happy. Do not stop at one, two or even ten. Keep adding to your collection of ‘favorite' songs, one at a time – and classify them according to the mood these evoke. Sometimes, you would like a sad song more than a happy one, and sometimes you would enjoy a peppy one. Have the songs indexed for easy identification. It is important to mention here that when I say music, I do not really mean songs only. Sometimes, the term ‘sound' is more appropriate. There are instances where people feel tranquility when hearing the sound of waves crashing in the sea or the chirping of a bird, or the sound of children's laughter, the sound of someone's voice, and so on. Owing to this discovery, many CDs are available today with sounds of nature – which are extremely pleasant and relaxing to hear, even if these CDs do not get onto your favorite list.

2. Identify a place – like all other types of relaxation, for this one too you would need a place where you could have a little privacy so you could enjoy the effects of the music without disturbing others. You could also dance if you felt like it. This could be a room where you can turn your stereo volume up and let the sound surround you, or it could a corner where you can enjoy a few minutes of solitude listening to music over the headphones. You could indulge in your favorite music even while you jog, walk or meditate. In fact, it was found that when music is combined with other therapies, it enhances the effect, quality and depth of relaxation.

3. Have an image/ scene to match your favorite sound with – it is not that you need to be stuck only with songs or sounds to induce relaxation. Sometimes, it becomes better if you add an imagery to it; something that would improve the pleasant feeling that the music generates. Let the music wash over you, while you visualize your scene in the mind. Enjoy the feeling created by synchronizing sound and vision and relish the beautiful feelings this combination generate.

4. Repeat it often – as with other methods of relaxation, in order to have it work for you, you need to repeat it as often as you can. Have a sound bath often, as someone put so expressively. Relaxation is a very vital part of your life; ensure that you allot enough attention and time to it.