Music has been known to have many positive effects on people, whether they spend time listening to it or are able to play an instrument. With COVID-19 forcing most of us to change our habits and spend much more time at home, depression rates are increasing and mental health issues are becoming more prominent. While depression won’t be cured by playing music, it is possible to experience some mood improvements and increased inspiration when you incorporate music into your daily life.
Rates of depression are increasing
With the many current restrictions thanks to the health crisis brought on by Covid-19, anxiety and depression rates are actually on the rise. As people are forced to stay home and aren’t able to get out and spend time doing many of the things that bring them joy, they are more likely to fall into a level of depression or experience high anxiety.
Change your focus
Though there is no quick and easy cure to depression, one step that can help your struggle is to change what you focus on. This can take a bit of energy and motivation that might be hard to find, but the effort may make a small and welcome difference. For example, rather than watching news, turn on some music and immerse in that. If you know how to play an instrument or can carry a tune when singing (or even if you can’t!), these are a couple other great ways to refocus your mind.
Improve your mood with music
Music can boost moods
Even sad or angry sounding music can have positive effects on mood. When listening to music you love, you’ll likely feel some level of joy or happiness, purely because you are doing something you enjoy. Even if the actual song itself has more sad, angry or unhappy notes to it, the fact that you are enjoying your time can help boost your mood. Listening to upbeat or positive music can increase this effect.
Music is healing
Music has been shown to have many healing properties. Whether you love to listen to music while you drive, write or relax, or prefer to play an instrument, music has many
It can help decrease stress and anxiety levels
Listening to and playing music helps reduce the presence of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol which work to keep a body stressed. Music can also provide a way to distract yourself from the situation that is causing you stress and anxiety. Immersing in music can help relax both your body and mind.
Musical skills improve confidence
Having the ability to play a musical instrument can help improve your confidence in both your musical skills and everyday life. When you know you have the ability to do something that many other people can’t, your brain feeds off of that knowledge and increases your overall confidence.
Learning an instrument can force you to focus on something else
The task of learning how to play a new instrument can offer a welcome distraction from the pulls of a low mood. When a hobby like playing an instrument requires steady concentration, your brain is forced to focus on the task at hand rather than the stressors in your life.
Music therapy as a tool to decrease depression
Incorporating music into regular therapy sessions has been shown to have a positive affect on many patients. When blending creative arts like music with traditional therapy methods in order to offer the client support in a way that they can better identify with, the positive qualities of music can have a resounding effect on anyone experiencing it.
Music lessons can help motivate
Taking music lessons to help improve your skills is a great way to increase your motivation to continue learning. When you feel confident and proud that your skills are improving, you will likely be more inclined to keep at it. The feeling of accomplishment that you’ll get when you finish a tough section or play a new song for a loved one is one that can’t be beat!
