If I’m feeling anxious or worked up about something, I hum quietly to myself, low down in my voice, and this helps me to feel more grounded and regulates my breathing. You could try listening to a favourite song and hum long notes to see if it has a calming effect for you too.

Lucie

Listening to music can provide a great mental health boost for me. I’d usually choose something cheerful and uplifting that I can get absorbed and lost in. Making music with others helps lift me too. When I play or sing in groups, I have to concentrate on what I’m doing, which gives me something positive to focus on. And the effect of creating music with others provides a great sense of connection and satisfaction.

Charlotte

I like to move my body to the rhythm/beat of music I am listening to. If I am sitting down, I tap my toes or hands on my lap. If I can move around, I walk/run/dance to the beat of the music. Moving my body helps me to process any stress/anxiety I am feeling physically and it’s great that music can help me to do that.

Kathryn

I find that creating different playlists based on my mood has been a very helpful tool for managing stress, anxiety, and just navigating emotions in general. Having a playlist ready for specific ways that I’m feeling really helps me navigate and process what I’m feeling. Music has this powerful way of validating emotions or shifting them, and organising it through playlists makes it feel more intentional. Even the process of selecting songs and curating your own playlist can feel very therapeutic!

Arianna

I always find getting lost in the world of making sound improves my mood. You can use anything, get yourself a cheap xylophone, pair of bongos or even pots and pans and a wooden spoon and just have some fun making nice sounds or melodies, it doesn’t matter how it sounds all that matters is if it makes YOU feel good.

Sam

I always find using music to connect to others improves my health and wellbeing, particularly feelings of mutuality, connectedness, being understood and equality. This can happen in a direct way, for instance when we attend live music events with others, or in a more indirect way, perhaps listening to music that is meaningful to us and those that we care about. Feeling connected, togetherness and sharing with others can be a great help to improving our health and wellbeing.

Chloe

My tip is to take opportunities to sing with others, this can be as casual as a bit of carpool karaoke after a long day, to something more formal like joining a choir. Joining a local choir has been so beneficial for my wellbeing! I often attend choir with a busy mind from the day that I have had, but the moment we start singing, all my other thoughts melt away as I focus on the music. Singing with others is a wonderful social opportunity too that helps me feel connected and gives me a positive focus and purpose.

Emily

If you’re already part of a choir, why not consider setting up a fundraiser to support music therapy? You can find our top tips on how to set up a fundraiser in our fundraising guide.