"Mental Fatigue - Music for Recovery" is a relaxation album that gently resonates with tired minds and bodies.

The original sound is interspersed with natural sounds such as birds chirping.

In a music listening experiment using this album, there was a tendency for improvements in psychological state and autonomic nervous function before and after listening to the music.

This time, we spoke with clinical psychologist Yuko Momotani, who supervised the book "Mental Fatigue: Music for Recovery."

Profile

Hiroko Momotani

Works at the Yokohama Rosai Hospital Workers' Mental Health Center.
Licensed psychologist, clinical psychologist, pharmacist, and PhD in counseling science.
He also serves as a faculty counselor at Kanagawa University.

--I think everyone has experienced moments in their daily lives when they feel mentally exhausted.

In many cases, due to busy schedules and habits, people repeat the same lifestyle and actions, gradually accumulating fatigue.

What risks are there as a result of accumulated fatigue?

Momotani: Even if you are in good health, it is common to feel fatigued if you work long hours or are exposed to excessive stress.

This feeling of fatigue is a sign that our body needs rest and acts as a warning to protect us from exhaustion caused by overactivity.

Fatigue, like pain and fever, is an important alarm that protects the body, but it seems that people often do not feel the same sense of danger as they do with pain and fever.

As a result, even if you are physically and mentally exhausted, you may continue to push yourself, thinking, "I only need to do this much more before it's over."

Also, even if you feel tired, if you are immersed in your work, you may feel less tired, and then suddenly feel tired again after you have finished your work.

This is because even if you feel like your fatigue is fading, your mind and body are actually still tired.

Accumulating fatigue can impair judgment and concentration, increase the likelihood of making mistakes, and affect work or academic performance.

It can lead to increased frustration and negatively impact relationships.

Physical discomfort may also occur, and the risk of autonomic nervous system disorders, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, headaches, weakened immunity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other conditions may increase.

Mental symptoms such as anxiety, tension, and depression may also appear.

Therefore, if you feel tired, it is very important to get plenty of rest and work to recover from fatigue.

If you are not feeling better even after trying these self-care methods, or if your condition is interfering with your daily life, we recommend that you consult a specialist to find appropriate treatment.

--In the booklet that comes with the CD "Music for Mental Fatigue Recovery," Professor Momotani suggests seven habits for relieving mental fatigue and recovering, all of which I find very convincing.

You mention "Relaxation - breathing techniques and music" in your article. Could you please tell me if there are any effective ways to listen to music?

Momotani: When mental tension and anxiety rise and your body becomes tense, it can be difficult to calm your mind.

In such cases, the first thing to do is to relax your body.

Relax your shoulders and try to loosen up your eyes and mouth.

If you play relaxing music at that time, your body will synchronize with the music and it will be easier to release tension.

Then, try to focus on your breathing.

Try to breathe slowly and calmly, imagining that you are inhaling through your nose and exhaling slowly through your mouth.

Taking slow, deep breaths increases parasympathetic nervous activity, putting your mind and body into a relaxed state.

"Mental Fatigue - Music for Recovery" is interspersed with the sounds of birdsong, wind, and waves.

We recommend listening to the music while focusing on these natural sounds and beautiful melodies, or simply listening at your own pace and surrendering yourself to the music as a whole.

By focusing on music, you can distract yourself from unpleasant events, worries, and anxieties.

Time away from distractions is very important.

--This time, we conducted a test on "Music for Mental Fatigue Recovery" with the cooperation of 11 monitors (6 men, 5 women, in their 30s to 50s), and found that there was a tendency for improvement in psychological state and autonomic nervous function before and after listening to the music.

The monitors' responses included comments such as, "Listening to music made me feel calm," "It helped me relax," "It made me feel like I was free of tension," and "It made me feel calm and allowed me to stop thinking about anything."

Professor Momotani, what did you think when you actually listened to the music on this album?

Momotani: When I listened to this music, I felt a comfortable sense of security, and by the time I finished listening to it, I felt refreshed.

In particular, I found that listening to this music before going to bed at the end of the day led to a deep state of relaxation, making it easier to fall asleep comfortably.

Nighttime is also an important time to rest in preparation for tomorrow's activities.

So listening to this music at night will help you feel refreshed and ready to face the new day.

I hope you enjoy this music at night.

--I hope that by listening to the music on this album on days when you feel mentally exhausted, you can feel a little better. Thank you, Momotani-sensei.

(Interviewer: Della Production Department)

[ Product information ]
"Mental Fatigue - Music for Recovery"
Music : Makiko Hirohashi Supervision: Yuko Momotani
Running time : Approximately 56 minutes (7 songs total)
JAN: 4961501653804
Product Number : DLMF-3925
Release date : Wednesday, October 25 , 2023
Price : 1,980 yen (tax included)
Publisher : Della Co., Ltd.