Wellness, work, and music — how it all comes together
[This was my weekend column for GlobalNews.ca. – AC]
There doesn’t seem to be any real evolutionary reason for homo sapiens to need music, yet our brains seem to be hardwired for it. All known cultures and societies have some sort of music (i.e. some kind of sounds distinguishable from speech). Throughout the whole of human history, not a single people has been found to exist without singing, musical instruments, and dancing. Not one. That trope about music being a universal language? Totally true.
We make and listen to music for entertainment, social bonding, rituals, and transforming/elevating ordinary experiences. Then there are all the therapeutic benefits. Yes, we use music both to hype us up and calm us down but it also has proven benefits for pain management, aiding people with autism, offering help for depression, improving sleep, contributing to positive infant development, and comforting patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Traditional Chinese medicine is also big on music. The theory is that the five internal organs and meridian systems all have their own musical tones. Pick the right tone and you can encourage healing. And if you’ve ever been to a spa or retreat that offers guided meditation, you’ll know that music plays a major role.
That music and wellness are intertwined is a proven fact. So it stands to reason that we should take advantage of its power in the workplace.
Wait. Is it a really good idea to allow music in the workplace?
Absolutely.
