The Power of Humming
Over the years we have discovered that interactions with music have tremendous impacts on us both physically and mentally. Humming is a fun little pass time for many people, but after seeing some of the many benefits, you may actually hum more!
The act of humming has been shown to help release tension. Some people even refer to humming as “sound medicine” as it is also used in meditation. Meditation can be difficult to practice for some, but with the addition of humming, you can create a point for you to focus on. Additionally, it can be tremendous in helping you maintain and control your breathing. With practice, meditation will become easier.
Similar to listening to music, a hum or two can be a fantastic distractor as well as a tool to help you center and focus your thoughts. It takes just enough cognitive load to force out anything that is not conducive to your primary focus without being distracted enough that you are entirely derailed from your task. It can also help calm your nerves and dissolve thinking that is not productive.
When you hum a song, you activate a thought train. You may think of times you’ve interacted with the song, and memories can surface. Sometimes the memory may be good and bring a smile to your face, but even if it’s something you would rather not remember you still can look at the memory from a different point of view and examine it in hindsight, which can help you deal with it, accept what happened, and find inner closure.
One study shows that when we hum we it can reduce blood pressure. There are so many benefits to humming, and you can reap all these benefits simply by humming for a few minutes each day. So, the next time you need a pick me up, or need to calm your nerves give humming a try.