If stress and anxiety are calling for a digital detox, then it’s time to listen. Sometimes, you just need to step away from the constant scrolling, the never-ending notifications, and the online noise. But logging off doesn’t mean disconnecting from music — if anything, it might help you reconnect with it in a more meaningful way.
On perfect days like long weekends or holidays, maybe it’s time to step away from hitting play on the next episode or logging back in for another round of online multiplayer games. Billboard Philippines lists six ways to reconnect with music, away from the screens on your phone, laptop, or television. Maybe this is the perfect time for you to channel your inner Hirayama from the film Perfect Days, directed by Wim Wenders — cherishing music on cassette tapes, enjoying books, and finding beauty in the world around you.
Spin some vinyl, pop a cassette, or play a CD
Kicking off the digital detox agenda is embracing the tangible. It’s all about rediscovering the pleasures of physical media like vinyl, CDs, and cassettes, which offer a more personal experience than streaming. Perhaps you can reconnect with the dusty old CDs you collected during your teenage years. It might bring back fond memories of flipping through booklets and memorizing lyrics while listening on your car radio. If you’ve started a vinyl collection and the plastic wrapper is still waiting to be ripped off, your vinyl player would like to have a word with you.
Maybe, while you’re decluttering and cleaning your room, you can spin some vinyl and experience what you’ve been missing out on. And if you’re feeling nostalgic, why not check out your parents’ cassette collection and experience what it’s like to listen on a Walkman or the pains of flipping the tape?
Tune in to FM radio
From various stations that play the biggest hits today to those bringing back the classics from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, there is a lost art in tuning into FM radio. It’s basically a free-for-all, and hearing a song you like, or one you can’t stop listening to lately, at random is a feeling in and of itself.
We live in a time when streaming platforms have their own AI DJs, but there’s something magical about listening to real DJs from FM stations like Wish 107.5, 96.3 Easy Rock, and Monster RX 93.1. Having a bit of chit-chat, introducing the next song, talking about music, and interacting with listeners adds a more personal touch to the overall experience. Just having the radio playing while you stay at home feels like having a familiar voice keeping you company as you go about your day.
Lyric journaling
Writing down your thoughts with pen and paper is a classic — nothing beats journaling and laying it all out in your notebook. And if a bright idea comes to mind, say, a song or a lyric, don’t let that spark go to waste. Don’t rush into finding a melody just yet; maybe what it needs right now are the words and feelings you want to let out. It doesn’t have to be perfect, either. You may not be writing the next chart-topping hit. But what matters is simply starting to write down what’s personal, honest, and uniquely you.
If you’re not one for writing your lyrics or poetry, compiling a list of beautiful writings that speak to you can be a great alternative.
Play an instrument (even if you’re a complete beginner)
Maybe having more time for yourself, away from the screens, will finally inspire you to try that instrument you’ve always wanted to play. Or perhaps you haven’t picked it up in a while and want to see if you’re a bit rusty. Having an instrument like a guitar, piano, or ukulele as an outlet could be the answer to whatever you’re feeling right now.
Struggling to express what your heart feels for someone? Excited about what’s to come in your life? Strumming a few chords or playing a few notes may just help you channel those emotions in a way words alone can’t.
Read artist memoirs or books about music
It’s finally time to hit that reading goal you’ve been dreading not accomplishing over the past couple of years. Exploring memoirs written by artists and musicians like Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, or Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast could be a whole new discovery. If you’re a fan of their music, getting to know them a little better through their writing can offer a deeper connection.
On the other hand, reading books about music like Daisy Jones and The Six or High Fidelity can offer a kind of musical journey that doesn’t require you to sit down and listen to a lot of songs or binge an entire season of a television show.
You can also explore books recommended by artists and musicians. You might be surprised by the kind of tastes your favorites have.
Singing in the shower
Treating yourself to a good shower after a long day, or simply staying fresh in the afternoon heat, singing in the shower is the perfect way to unwind. You might want some music for this one, but if you’re still committed to staying off your phone, your voice might be all you need. Plus, you’ve got your own tempo and rhythm, so what’s stopping you?
After all, nothing can replace that enigmatic performance you put on in the shower, especially when you’re in the right mood. Maybe you’ve been holding back from belting out that powerful chorus of a song you love. But in the shower, with those surprisingly good acoustics, no one’s listening, and no one’s judging. It’s your personal time, so go ahead and sing your heart out.