Whether you’re hanging out with friends or it’s date night, karaoke is always a smart choice. Even if you don’t consider yourself the best singer, it’s not open mic night—the focus is 100% on fun, not skills. However, there’s a wonderful hidden benefit. Getting onstage and singing your favorite pop song or rock ballad can also improve your health. Here are five ways you’ll benefit.

How Karaoke Impacts Wellness

1. Reduces Stress

When you consistently engage in fun activities like karaoke, it elevates your mood and reduces your overall stress. Put more scientifically, listening to or performing music can minimize cortisol, which is also known as the stress hormone.

2. Increases Social Support

Everyone understands the casual nature of karaoke. It’s rare for an audience to leave a performer hanging; most will give them a round of applause. This simple act creates feelings of acceptance, support, and community, all of which are vital to a person’s well-being. If you choose a crowd favorite that gets people to sing along, you’ll feel an even greater sense of belonging.

3. Improves Circulation

Although it may not compare with running or swimming, singing onstage does get your blood pumping, especially if you’re nervous. To further increase your circulation, pick an upbeat song that makes you and everyone in the room want to dance. 

4. Boosts Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is essential for understanding yourself and your relationships. According to Psychology Today, it’s defined as “the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others,” and singing songs for a crowd helps build it. To sell a song, you need to empathize with its content; furthermore, you should also read the room to see whether the crowd would prefer something slow or upbeat.

5. Encourages Deep Breathing

Even though you don’t need a professional technique, shallow breaths make singing more challenging. You need to breathe deeply to ensure you can make it through a long or complicated verse. Ultimately, this helps bring more oxygen to your blood and strengthens your diaphragm.

If you’re in the Foley, AL, area, there’s no better place for karaoke than Wednesday nights at The Office Lounge. Friendly and welcoming, this neighborhood bar knows how to have fun. Feeling a little shy about singing in front of a crowd? Don’t worry. Not only is the atmosphere easygoing, but if you go onstage, you’ll also get a coupon for $1 off your drink (one coupon per drink). Aside from singing your heart out, you can also enjoy a game of pool, poker, the area’s only indoor shuffleboard, and darts! For more information about the bar, visit their website or call (251) 943-2210.