A genre bending musical experience for people moving in 2023

April is recognized as National Stress Awareness Month to bring attention to the negative impact of stress, and the topic of stress seems to come up frequently in our industry as a key challenge to overcome, or at least minimize. In fact, in a survey from Move.org, almost 40% of respondents said that moving is more stressful than parting ways with a significant other. This article argues that moving is the most stressful "life event", ranked in the list below:

MOST STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS

1. Moving - 45%
2. Going through a breakup/divorce - 44%
3. Getting married - 33%
4. Having children - 31%
5. Starting your first job ever - 28%
6. Entering a new career/industry - 27%
7. Sending a child off to college - 26%
8. Starting college - 22%
9. Dating someone new - 10%
10. Getting a pet - 7%

The article goes further and shares the most stressful parts of moving:

MOST STRESSFUL PARTS OF MOVING

1. Packing - 48%
2. Sorting out what to keep and what to get rid of/donate - 47%
3. Making a down payment on my new house/getting a mortgage - 28%
4. Finding a mover - 24%
5. Budgeting for movers - 23%
6. Saving up enough money to sign a lease/get an apartment - 14%
7. Budgeting for renting a moving van/truck 7%

As we work to provide tools and resources to help employees and their families move around the world and help those within companies manage their mobility programs in the most effective and efficient ways possible, we are always looking to reduce anxiety, strain, tension and negative emotions. In fact, we recently touched on the topic of stress and it's impact on the employee experience in this post, "The secret to a great mobility experience can't be stressed enough!". 

Stress — that feeling of emotional tension, overwhelm, or feeling unable to cope — can affect us mentally and physically. For many, listening to music can help to counteract stress. Music has the power to reduce stress and listening to your favorite music may actually have more health benefits than you realize. Here’s how songs can actually reduce stress and help you feel better. 

According the University of Nevada Reno Counseling Services, it is possible to release stress through the power of music. They share:

"Music can have a profound effect on both the emotions and the body. Faster music can make you feel more alert and concentrate better. Upbeat music can make you feel more optimistic and positive about life. A slower tempo can quiet your mind and relax your muscles, making you feel soothed while releasing the stress of the day. Music is effective for relaxation and stress management."

Not too long ago, we asked might music make moving more manageable? In it we explored the power of music and pondered how it might support mobile employees who are dealing with the stress and distraction of the relocation or assignment process. Studies have shown that:

• Listening to music can reduce feelings of depression and can actually increase self-esteem ratings in elderly people.
• Listening to music on headphones reduces stress and anxiety in hospital patients before and after surgery.
• Music therapy significantly reduces emotional distress and boosts quality of life among adult cancer patients.

You can review some of the more recent research on how music helps to relieve stress, but if music is so helpful in many seemingly extreme situations, why not consider tapping into its amazing powers when it comes to helping work your way through a relocation or international assignment?

Here is my top 10 songs playlist called "A genre bending musical experience for people moving in 2023":

1. Moving by Payday
2. Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts
3. Song for leaving - Brett Dennen
4. Move On Up - Curtis Mayfield
5. Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
6. Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
7. Movin' Out - Billy Joel
8. Move Along - All-American Rejects
9. Farewell - Rihanna
10. Thnks fr th Mmrs - Fall Out Boy

Enjoy!