Our mental health can vary at any time of the year, but it seems unanimous that our moods take a hit more in the winter. As the temperature drops, longer nights draw in and the sun goes into hiding, picking up a musical instrument can be a fantastic way to develop our skills, spend our time productively and is scientifically proven to lift our spirits. Here's a few ways that practicing and playing a musical instrument can strengthen our defences against the incoming winter blues. 1. It’s Something Fun We Can Do Indoors. When it’s cold, rainy and miserable outside for days on end, it really can be tempting to pull the covers over our heads and just hibernate. One of the many reasons guitar playing can help us is it’s a great pastime we can enjoy indoors without having to be glued to a screen. We can stay warm and cosy by the fire whilst playing away as the storm passes. We can do this or alone or in the company of friends. 2. Setting Goals For Yourself - Seeing Progress In A Short Amount Of Time. Playing a musical instrument is scientifically proven to boost Dopamine and has a positive impact on our moods. When we set ourselves a goal and we achieve it, our brain produces Dopamine and Seretonin which are essential chemicals for feeling positive, satisfied and happy. We can use the guitar to increase the levels of happy chemicals in our brains. Maybe we want to learn a new chord, master our favourite guitar solo or write a piece of our own music, having a goal to work towards and then achieving it keeps us focussed and feeling positive about ourselves, this leads us to number three. 3. Regular Discipline and Focus Increases Self-Esteem Once you have set a new goal. Practicing our instrument and learning to play new things consistently creates a positive feedback loop, when you achieve something, it makes you feel good, then you do more, this snowball effect creates a huge surge in how good we feel about ourselves. It assures us we can build skills, accomplish hard things and raises your self-esteem dramatically. It's not just the achieving that makes us feel happy, pursuing small achievable goals also increases the levels of dopamine in our brains. The enjoyment is more about the pursuit than the final achievement! Alongside this, focusing on something challenging distracts us from the world around us, and brings our attention to the here and now. Focussing on the guitar gives us a clear head and can be a welcome escape from the pressures of life. I often find when playing the guitar, I am so focussed it's extremely difficult to think about anything else. It's very grounding and It can feel like a peaceful mediation away from the outside world. 4. Playing a musical instrument gives you opportunities to make friends. Throughout the winter, most pubs and local live music venues host open mic or jam nights through the week. This is a place for local musicians, songwriters and general music enthusiasts to meet, socialise and play music together. We know that a strong sense of community is essential to good mental health. If we have a few tunes under our belt and have a passion for music, there is likely a whole community of others in our local area we can meet, jam with and find new friends through our shared love of guitar and music. 5. Playing a musical instrument is a workout for the brain.
just like we need to keep our bodies fit and healthy, it’s important to work on our brains. “Playing a musical instrument is the equivilant of a full body workout for the brain” - Anita Colluins.
As you play a musical instrument, fireworks are going off inside our brains. In the last few decades neuroscientists have made incredible breakthroughs by monitoring electrical activity in people’s brains while playing an instrument. It engages practically every area of the brain at once, especially the visual, auditory and motor centres on both the left and right hemispheres. Regular practice on an instrument can strengthen and improve the connections in our brain and speed up how fast it can think and send messages to our bodies. An increase in this processing speed can help our abilities to work, move, solve problems, and think creatively. Musicians even exhibit enhanced memory functions due to the constant practice of learning and memorising new movements.
So, if you’re looking to combat the seasonal blues this winter, why not try playing the guitar? It might be everything you’re looking for and more.
I have some limited availability left for September, get in touch now to book your first lesson and we can get started!
All my best, Matt.
