So you’ve just had a moment.
You belted out Bohemian Rhapsody at the top of your lungs on the way to work and now you’re feeling, well… phenomenal!?
So what’s the science here? Why does it feel so great, and are there legitimate benefits to winding down the windows of your Subaru and bursting into song?
Well, it turns out that yes, it’s true.
Singing in your car does actually have some pretty fascinating benefits. Here they are.
1. Singing in the car is a major stress relief
Singing in general has some pretty amazing stress-relief effects. This study found that singing lowered cortisol – a stress hormone – and when you think about it, no one is more relaxed when they’re crooning a Beatles classic or humming along to Justin’s latest hit.
But there’s an added bonus when you’re in the car – where usually you’re on your way to work. The clock is ticking and maybe you’re late to a meeting.
Singing can reduce this stress and add a fun element to your daily commute that would otherwise be quiet and some would argue – boring.
2. Singing can turn an ugly traffic jam into a karaoke concert
No one likes to be caught in traffic. Especially if you know it’s a long jam and you’re moving at 2km/h in a 100 zone.
I mean, cmon.
Enter your favorite track of the week, and the dull hum of traffic becomes obsolete as you and your crew break out into song.
Here are some hot picks to get you started:
- Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
- Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
- Dancing Queen – ABBA
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- Roar – Katy Perry
- Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
- Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
- Wonderwall – Oasis
- This Is Me – The Greatest Showman
- One Kiss – Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa
3. Singing in the car is good for your mental health
Singing has a positive effect on mental health.
And singing in the car is no different.
There’s something about being on the move, wind howling through the windows, and your voice carrying over the warble of the engine that makes for an uplifting and healthy moment. It’s always good to have access to music when in a car.
Listening to the radio can be hit and miss. So try downloading some playlists you can fall back on for when the radio isn’t delivering the goods.
4. Singing releases dopamine – which can calm you down in difficult situations
Whenever things are stressful, difficult, or maybe you’re dealing with terrible drivers all around you – breathing in and out can help no end. But singing can do even more.
Singing along to music you enjoy can actually help reduce road rage by relieving built-up tension in the body and help you focus on the road.
So next time you’re overwhelmed by the incompetence of other drivers – instead of seething with rage – try flicking on your favorite tune and see what happens.
5. Singing in the car can give you a buzz
It’s not just your mental health that benefits from singing in the car. Your lungs, diaphragm, and body get a good kick out of it too. Those good vibrations (excuse the pun) are real and can give you that feeling of being fully awake in your body.
Just remember to always keep a good eye on the road – we don’t want you to get too overexcited.
6. Singing in the car can help you regulate and process emotions
Music is a great stimulator of emotion. And if there’s something you’re going through that’s getting you down or stressing you out – finding the right music to de-stress and process emotion can be a good part of your toolkit.
Singing in the car doesn’t have to always be a communal thing either. Sometimes you might just want to hum along at your own pace and whenever you want to – the benefits are just as good.
7. Your car actually has some pretty good acoustics
Compared to the shower, your car may even have better acoustics. Whether the designers thought about this when they put pencil to paper is another question – but it’s nice to think they did test it out themselves.
Jokes aside, one thing is for sure – your speaker system was designed with ultimate sound quality in mind – so you can count on that being a good backup for when the beat drops.
Outro
Singing in the car is good for your health, both at a physical and emotional level. There’s a science to back that up, but the results are there if you just open your mouth and let it out.
If you’re not convinced, blast the chorus of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and you’ll see what we mean.
Happy singing and stay safe.
