HO-HO-HOLD THE HOLIDAY MUSIC
laxed rhythms, from Mozart’s “Canzonetta Sull’aria” to Adele’s “Someone Like You.” Studies also show “designer” music – songs created to evoke certain feelings or emotions, like relaxation – also ranks as an effective de-stressor, as does classical music. English band Marconi Union, meanwhile, went one step further and worked with the British Academy of Sound Therapy to create the 2011 hit “Weightless,” an eightminute ambient tune available on Youtube and iTunes that features harmonies and base lines that tap into everything from a listener’s mind to their heart rate. Scientists say it can reduce anxiety by more than 60 per cent. Some listeners nearly fell asleep while sampling it, which means you may want to wait until after you open presents before you press “play.”