BUSY LIVES & HEALTHY DISTRACTIONS

How singing can lift you up when life wears you down

My week begins with a semi-organised house, the lawn mowed, laundry folded and I've meal prepped for a few days. But by mid week however, my life is unravelling. The sink is filled to the brim with dirty dishes whilst the dishwasher is packed with clean dishes that were washed two days ago. My toddler's damp swim suit and towel are crumpled up in some random corner of the house whilst my bathroom sink looks like I knocked a shelf over in the beauty aisle and (what the heck!) my jeans are feeling tight on me!

Despite how full my life has become while balancing motherhood, marriage and running my own business, the call to sing remains a powerful force in my life. Perhaps you're a young student with a mountain of assessments that seem to be coming at you relentlessly while your juggling that with a part-time job. Maybe you find yourself at the peak of your career and your work is an all consuming force in your life right now. I know that living a life of order and routine is a very powerful thing over time, but sometimes little distractions can be healthy! Singing is just one of those healthy distractions everyone needs to leave some room for. Finding your song, no matter who you are or what stage of you life you're at is one of those things that can be incredibly powerful. 

Singing possesses many mental and physiological benefits. A study published in Australia in 2008 showed that choral singers rated their satisfaction with life higher than the general public, even when some of the singers were facing more challenging circumstances than other people! [Source MacLean]. Singing also helps release endorphins (happy hormones), improves lung health, releases body tension and enhances your mood and overall wellbeing. 

If singing is so darn good for you, then why are many people reluctant to belt out their favourite tunes? I think it comes down to confidence. People's insecurity about how they sound often gets in the way and that child-like desire to express themselves in a song is squashed. The amazing thing that I've realised however, is how quickly people's confidence is boosted when they start singing lessons. It is a satisfying feeling to look back on my day of work and realise that I have helped so many individuals discover that their voice is capable of improving when they are given the right tools to practice with. For me, singing itself is not only an enjoyable distraction in my day, but teaching others the tools I have spent decades discovering brings so much meaning into my life. 

Are you someone who struggles with confidence? If a lack of confidence is holding you back from singing, there's no need to let that continue. One on one singing lessons are a great way to discover the voice you never knew you had!

To make an online lesson booking visit www.calendly.com/francescaolson