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Wellness: Stress Relief Songs

April is Stress Awareness Month, and what better way to decompress than with your favorite song? According to the University of Nevada, Reno, “music can have a profound effect on both the emotions and the body,” adding that “Native American, Celtic, Indian stringed-instruments, drums, and flutes are very effective at relaxing the mind even when played moderately loud.”

We asked the Nonotuck community what their go-to song for stress relief is, and the results were amazing. If you’d like your song included,  email Jannelle Robinson (robinson@nonotuck.com) and Joshua Murray (murray@nonotuck.com)!

Nikki Cannici, Care Manager

I’m trying to think of my go-tos for stress-relieving tunes.  There are soooo many it’s hard to narrow it down.  These two stand out as tunes that join me in my emotions and make it a little easier to breathe:

Buckethead: Coupon - Pike #234 

Stevie Ray Vaughan: Lenny

Thomas Carey, Care Manager

Jon Batiste - FREEDOM. Because it just hits the right  spot! Watching the video is also a must. 

George H. Fleischner, President & CEO

“Everyday People”.  Sly and The Family Stone.  Fifty years old, timeless song with a great message.  The song get me out of a funk and I either want to break out my soft shoe or actually get down with a little Ski Mask, Whole Shack Shimmy or the Swag.

Ryan Gaw, Accounting Manager

“Freddie Freeloader” by Miles Davis: A quintessential jazz track from what many consider the greatest jazz record of all time, Kind of Blue. It’s a soothing, nearly 10 minute escape featuring contributions from an All-Star sextet including legends, Bill Evans, “Cannonball” Adderley, John Coltrane, and of course the man who personified the word cool, Miles Davis. 

Arthur Jones, Placement Specialist & Developer

Bobby McFerrin- “Don’t Worry Be Happy”

Kimberly Kell, Registered Nurse

My favorite song right now to listen to for stress relief is currently Daughtry  “Renegade”.  I love to have the windows open in the car and just take off to this song. It is very therapeutic for me.

Joshua Murray, Marketing Coordinator

I am by no means a passionate Taylor Swift fan, but “Shake It Off” seems to have been grown in a lab with the sole purpose of reducing stress. Everything about it— from the bouncy beats to the breezy delivery—makes me feel a little bit lighter at that moment; “shake it off” indeed!

Julia Pitre, Registered Nurse

My stress relief song is “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” the Randy Newman version. I love the Toy Story movies and I have 4 lifelong friends that I don’t get to see often, but when we do it is like no time has passed. When I am stressed and missing simpler times when I was carefree with my friends this song reminds me and gives me a smile in my heart! 

Linda Reid, Accounts Receivable Clerk

“September” by Earth, Wind, and Fire

Jannelle Robinson, Wellness Coordinator

“After the Storm” by Mumford and Sons is such a beautiful song that gives hope during hard times. I love listening to it when I am doing yoga! 

Carla Sanchez, Program Director

"Happy" by Pharrell Williams is such a good feel song! It really does make a stressful situation better. I promise you even if you're upset, you'll be clapping along with the song by the end.

Maureen Smith, Care Manager

Tim McGraw - Humble And Kind. When thinking about a song with a great message, it is this one by Tim McGraw, the message of love, to love and be loved, it’s a calming song !

Dough Watts,

The Grateful Dead’s “Bird Song,” written for Janis Joplin.

Dan Zimmerman

I break two ways on this.  When I need some musical stress relief and need to bring things down a few notches and plug myself back into the source of my strength, I often choose Van Morrison.  “Listen to the Lion” is an incredible song that reminds the listener of one’s inner strength and reminds us that, yes, it’s in there! 

When I just need to “shake it off” and listen to something that’s viscerally satisfying, I go back to some of the hard music of my youth and tap into a little AC/DC or Parliament Funkadelic, Queen or Led Zeppelin!  One old reliable is Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now”, a song that reminds me to cut loose every once in a while, dance like an idiot and stop caring what the hell everyone else might think of me!:  Queen - Don't Stop Me Now

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Caregiving with Love:
Guide for Shared Living Providers

Learn how Nonotuck developed a love-based ideology of care. We started our shared living program as an alternative to group homes for people with disabilities. Instead, Shared Living creates genuine life transformation for people with disabilities, as well as families and communities. The true power of caregiving is found through hospitality, authenticity, and love.

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