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The sun hasn’t even risen yet, but you’re already on your way to work. The streets and the subways are packed as usual. Your junior colleague has yet to learn how to use the copy machine. Your manager is already nagging. The moment you step out of your home, you are exposed to a wide variety of stress. There are many threats to your health, but stress is the most formidable enemy.

Stress, on the surface, is merely your body’s response, but when it keeps piling up on you, it starts to have an impact on your well-being. Indeed, most of those who go to see a doctor due to physical diseases are likely to be under a wide range of stress. Ironically, the reason why you study so hard under so much stress is to take a higher position, make more money and, ultimately, find reprieve from stress. Such an ironic and even sad situation might, though, be unavoidable.

A psychological study reveals that you can feel stress even when you do virtually ‘nothing’. Some of the subjects who participated in the study suffered temporary hallucination after a test where they had to do nothing but sleeping, going to the bathroom and eating. After all, human beings are bound to feel stress, no matter what the situation.

Today, many people dream of quitting their jobs or just studying and resting at home. As the test shows, however, you need some degree of stimulus and stress to give yourself tension. Stress can after all be a source of disease if you fail to control it. On the other hand, it can be a good stimulant that can help keep you healthy if you manage it properly.

People listen to music or go traveling when they are going through a tough time, feel sad or have their hearts broken. Music, in particular, is probably the easiest and the most immediate method of managing your stress, among others. You probably have experienced a moment where your stress and annoyance instantly dissipate the moment you hear a song from the radio on your way to work on a rainy, busy morning.

What kind of music will match April, the time when signs of spring are getting clearer and clearer? How about a bossa nova that reminds you of such images as green encrusted woods, melted ice and warm sunshine. The bossa nova is a style of easy-listening and lovely music best encapsulated by the song “Fly me to the moon”. It evolved from samba, a Brazilian musical genre, with an influence from jazz. The phrase bossa nova means literally “new trend", which suggests that it goes well with gentle and warm melody and sound. Stan Getz and other musicians in the 1960s made a great contribution to the proliferation of bossa nova across the globe. Now, are you ready to be cheerful?

The first song to introduce you to is ‘Desafinado’ by Stan Getz, an internationally well-known jazz performer. Starting with a gentle sound of a classical guitar, this song may well prove a wise choice for those stress-stricken Monday mornings. Wash up, turn on the song and pick a bit thinner and lighter clothes and you will shrug off the Monday morning blues instantly.

• Stan getz <Desafinado>

The second song is Lisa Ono’s ‘I Wish You Love’. Her clear and sweet voice will make you feel somehow nicer inside. This cheerful and pleasing song can also be a perfect choice when you drive on a peaceful suburban road on a rainy spring day.

• Lisa ono <I Wish You Love>

The third song to recommend is Joao Gilberto’s ‘Unhappy Remark’. Don’t think bossa nova is always pleasant and bright. The melody is cheerful, but the vocals sound gentle and warm enough to cure your broken heart. It may well be a good cure for those hectic Wednesdays when you're stuck in traffic on your way back home.

• Joao Gilberto의 <CHOVE LÁ FORA>

You are probably under stress even while reading this article. If you are diligent enough to go find the right music for you, your stress can turn out to be a positive stimulus for you to carry on. Today, take stress as something which can do you harm some times and good at others and use it to your advantage through music.

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