“Relaxation can look however you want it to,” Dr. Rangan Chatterjee tells Apple Music. “Sometimes it’s dancing to your favourite tunes whilst cooking, or singing at the top of your voice in the shower! It definitely doesn’t have to be slow and quiet. For me, there’s nothing that says ‘downtime’ more than cooking up a healthy feast in the kitchen, while listening to some ’90s rock. Give me some Bon Jovi, INXS, Red Hot Chili Peppers, or Counting Crows and I’m instantly in my happy place and feeling chilled.” The author and host of the hit podcast Feel Better, Live More is also a singer-songwriter, which he finds is one of the best ways to unwind. “Music is so evocative and nostalgia can be a powerful relaxant. If you’re struggling to find calm, often it can help to think back to a time when you felt content and try to go there in your mind. Having a playlist that can take you straight there is a great self-help tool,” he says. “As a singer-songwriter myself, I really appreciate a good melody, an authentic voice that connects with me and warm, organic sounds. I love musical tones that are timeless—tracks that can be heard decades after they were written and still feel current. So some gentle acoustic rock, folk, or even a bit of country makes a good soundtrack to my evenings and weekends. “I’m more likely to listen to music while I’m chilling around the house, whether that be cooking, washing up, or relaxing in a bath. One of my favourite ways to unwind is to get out my acoustic guitar and either sing or do a bit of songwriting. When it comes to mindfulness or meditation practices, I much prefer silence.” But when stress gets too much, Chatterjee recommends a very simple—and easily available—way of relieving it. “Breathwork is one of the quickest, easiest, and most effective ways to self-regulate—and it’s free and accessible to anyone,” he says. “Both the pace and how deeply you breathe have the power to change your stress response. One of my favourite breaths is what I call ‘The 3-4-5 Breath’ and it’s brilliant at relieving stress. Breathe in for three seconds, hold for four seconds, and breathe out for five seconds. When your out-breath is longer than your in-breath, you reduce your stress and encourage your body to move into a relaxed state. Do this for one to five minutes and you’ll feel different immediately.” Breathe deep and hit play to feel that relaxation—and read on to find out more about some of Chatterjee’s choices. Chris Cornell, “Nothing Compares 2 U (Live at SiriusXM, 2015)” “With only two acoustic guitars, a mournful cello, and that voice, Chris Cornell’s take on Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ is breathtaking. Even though vocally it’s an impassioned rendition, I find this sparse, downtempo interpretation quietens my mind. Hearing familiar songs in new settings can sometimes reframe their meaning, and that’s something I always think about when I hear this.” Sheryl Crow, “Run, Baby, Run” “This is a great storytelling song with a narrative about finding an identity in a time of change. Lyrically, I find it inspiring, and that message is reflected in the music, with a big sweeping chorus that makes the song ultimately uplifting.” U2, “One” “On my recent live tour around the UK, I actually performed an acoustic version of the song ‘One’ by U2. It’s one of my all-time favourites and it speaks to the universal truth that humans need connection. We’re fallible, but ultimately we can support each other through difficult times.” Lainey Wilson, “Dirty Looks” “I recently had a wonderful conversation with my childhood hero, Jon Bon Jovi, on my podcast and after we finished recording, Jon recommended I check out the singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson. From the first time I heard her voice, I was sold. She has the perfect blend of sweetness and grittiness, and her breakthrough hit ‘Dirty Looks’ is simply sublime.” Eddie Vedder, “Society” “I love Eddie Vedder’s version of ‘Society,’ taken from the soundtrack of the film Into the Wild. It was originally written by Jerry Hannan, and his lyrics of alienation and loneliness are perfectly conveyed by Vedder’s world-weary voice. Despite the forlorn lyrics, the song conveys a sense of hope, which always stops me in my tracks.”