While this book is directed toward students, the following piece, as well as the entire book, can be applicable to anyone.

MUSICAL RELEASES

Music is recognized for its therapeutic value everywhere from the operating room to the counselor’s office. According to the American Music Therapy Association (2006), music helps alleviate pain and promote wellness, expression of feelings, and memory. Whether it’s punk rock on your mp3 player, singing in the shower or playing classical guitar in the dorm room, consider all of the ways that music can help you release stress.

• Learn a new instrument.

Why not? Take a piano or guitar class. Maybe you took piano lessons as a kid and gave them up. Wouldn’t you love to pound away on something from Coldplay or Ben Folds? What about the guitar? It is never too late to form your own band.

• Join a musical group, or form one.

Once you’ve learned an instrument, or found friends who share your passion for sound, take it up a step! Select music that makes you feel happy when you perform it, and then show people! Go to clubs or college talent shows. Even singing in the dorm lobby is a fun way to release stress. The University of Iowa has an open mike night a few times a month where people can go and perform; you can tell that the musicians really enjoy themselves, no matter what the crowd’s reaction is.

• Sing, anywhere.

Singing is a great release. Anyone reading this book who says they haven’t ever sung along to their favorite song in the shower is probably fibbing. You can lose yourself in whatever you’re singing about.

• Write music.

Writing music is an incredible release of stress because you can put your feelings down on a piece of paper and work away at them. Whether you’re pounding out a guitar melody or reworking a line, stress can disappear through the music.  Writing new words to your favorite song is also a lot of fun.

• CD review/swapping club.

At any college, you’re going to hear a lot of different kinds of music playing from the dorm rooms. Take a stroll and listen for rap, rock, country, classical, and pop music.  Maybe it is time to explore a new genre by borrowing a friend’s country CD and loaning them a few of your punk favorites. Get together and talk about different musical tastes. Sharing makes a swapping club discussion session so much fun!

Stress can get to anyone. It’s only human nature. But the good thing about stress is that it can be controlled, and even eliminated, if you have the right releases for it.

Adapted from The Smart Student's Guide to Healthy Living: How to Survive Stress, Late Nights, and the College Cafeteria by M.J. Smith RD, FADA and Fred Smith.