Have you ever noticed how music can change your mood? Maybe we noticed this more over the last couple of years because we were stuck at home and really needed help with our moods.  What do you specifically listen to when you need to calm down or chill out? What do you listen to when you need to get ready to do something challenging? Do you listen to music to help you fall asleep?

Sadly I don’t think I paid enough attention to music during the pandemic. I have my movie soundtrack playlist while working/writing but I hadn’t spent nearly enough time playing my guitar or just listening to music for pleasure. There just didn’t seem to be enough hours in the day for everything that needed to get done. Organize curriculum, eat & sleep enough to survive the grind, and try to stay ahead of the grading. Wash, rinse, repeat. 

But now that I’m six days away from ending the current version of the “daily grind” it’s good to revisit this part of my life. I’m trying to see more live music and maybe eventually get back to the open mic scene. I don’t know that there will ever be enough time for everything and I’m aware that the time ahead of me is diminishing. So, yeah, music… I have a nightly playlist that I play to go to sleep… music plays an important role in my day to day efforts. Like a lot of things, I need to be a bit more conscious with my choices and my use of time. There’s always room for improvement. This time next week I will be a “former teacher.”

Source: Source: PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs: Exploring the connection between our brains, our moods and music, https://youtu.be/4Ogp08rmQe0