Playlist is a neologism (new word) from the era of mp3 electronic music players. It refers to a sequence of tracks selected from amongst available music, that are grouped together as a listener choice. This is not the same as an album, where the associated tracks are chosen by the music publisher or the artist concerned.

Thus a personal playlist can include Beatles, along with Beethoven, if desired. There are no restrictions. Imagination and taste is the only guide.

Now a new book has pointed out that by choosing your playlist tracks carefully, your music can have an enormous benefit on your moods, efficiency and energy.

The book is called Your Playlist Can Change Your Life by Galina Mindlin, MD, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University, and founder of Brain Music Therapy; Don DuRousseau, founder of Human Bionics; and Joseph Cardillo, a top-selling author in holistic psychology and mind-body medicine.

The authors argue that music’s benefits hold for everyone and that if we queue up our tunes with care they’ll lift our mood, reduce anxiety, raise motivation, help us work out better and even fight off depression and insomnia.

Like sex, drugs or really good food, music causes the brain to release dopamine, a brain feel-good chemical. Choose your tracks carefully and you really can control your mood. Continue reading →