Stress levels are currently going through the roof here in the UK.

6 out of 10 adults experience chronic stress symptoms as a result of their employment responsibilities. Maybe you experience it too – racing thoughts, fatigue, and the pervasive feeling of being behind.

You know what it's like: The busy commute to work, the unexpected emergencies that arise in the day, the looming deadlines, the feeling that you never get a minute to yourself, the demanding customers (and colleagues), the emails, the notifications, the busy commute back from work. The list goes on.

And then you've got your family responsibilities, your social life, and every other aspect of your life you're trying to manage. It's exhausting – and you crave some relief from this relentless onslaught.

In this article I want to share how the creative act of piano-playing can transform your life by reducing stress.

If you don't yet play piano, this is an important read. If you do already play piano, read on anyway to remind yourself about the incredible benefits of a piano practice, and perhaps discover new perspectives to deepen your experience.

Playing piano is more than just a musical skill; it's a valuable tool for well-being, fulfilment and emotional resilience. Let’s explore how this creative act can transform your life.

The Effects Of Chronic Stress

Regularly feeling 'stressed out' is not good for your mind, your body, or your spirit.

Short term symptoms of stress can display in a variety of ways:

• Physically: Restless sleep, tension headaches, and persistent tiredness

• Emotionally: An ongoing sense of fear or worry, low mood and hopelessness, and feeling permanently 'on edge'

• Cognitively: Lack of focus, difficulty making simple decisions, and forgetfulness

• Behaviourally: Delaying important tasks or responsibilities, using substances as a coping mechanism, withdrawing from social situations

Sure, it's normal to experience these symptoms from time to time – that is a function of modern day life. But persistent stress over the long term can lead to more adverse effects, such as cardiovascular disease, mental health challenges, or immune system dysfunction.

So, to protect against the unwanted long-term effects of stress, we need to prioritise reducing the stress we experience on a daily basis.

By focusing on improving your life in the present, you will improve your future.

Play Piano To Reduce Stress

Neuroscientists have found that learning to play piano is a powerful tool in our fight against stress. A regular piano practice can:

• decrease depression

• increase positive mood states

• enhance the quality of psychological and physical health

Neuroscience aside, I can share from personal experience, that since I recommitted to playing piano on a daily basis, I have re-discovered a deep sense of purpose in my life, and the negative chatter in my mind has quietened (it honestly is transformative).

Let's dig a little deeper into some of the benefits of playing piano (in the fight against stress).

How Does Piano-Playing Reduce Stress?

There are many ways in which playing piano reduces your stress. The following 3 examples are a good place to start:

Playing Piano Encourages Social Connection

Most of my current friendships originated from a mutual love for music. The cool thing about music, is that the pursuit of mastery never ends – at every level of ability, there's still room for improvement – we're always learning.

Some of my deepest connections are with fellow music-makers. We keep in touch to share our challenges and help each other overcome them. We keep each other accountable. We inspire each other. We want to see each other improve and grow.

I've also built strong bonds with my own music mentors, as well as my own students.

Human beings are social creatures, and the effects of loneliness are well documented. Playing piano, and using this as a reason to connect with fellow music-makers is a powerful buffer against chronic stress (and its long-term effects).

Playing Piano Reduces Cortisol Levels

You've probably heard of cortisol – a hormone associated with stress. Cortisol is often thought of as a negative chemical – something unwanted.

But cortisol in itself is not 'bad' for you. In fact it's a chemical fundamentally essential for healthy bodily function and survival. However, prolonged elevation of cortisol levels can lead to chronic stress and all the negative symptoms associated with it.

Playing the piano activates one of our body's many systems – the parasympathetic nervous system. The activation of this system reduces the cortisol levels in your body, as well as reduces your heart rate and blood pressure. The end result – a sense of calm.

I've found that, even when my music sessions are challenging, I always feel better after a music session than I did before.

Playing Piano Provides A Mindfulness Practice

There's nothing quite like getting lost in the present moment when you're playing piano – a total immersion in music-making where 100% of your attention is focused on the touch of the keys, and the sounds you create as a result of that touch.

The idea is to treat each piano-playing session as a special time-block in your day, designated to allow you to enter the flow-state. Zero distraction, complete focus.

In this present-moment state of awareness, unwanted mental chatter, and rumination simply disappear.

Finding regular moments of respite from cycles of negative thoughts (and everyday worries) builds your resilience to stress over the long-term. I like to think of it as creating little pockets of calm each day.

Interestingly, I've found that the more consistent I am with creating these moments of calmness, the more I seek out creating these moments – it's a virtuous cycle.

Put simply – playing piano will improve your life.

The Final Note

I'm on a mission to introduce as many people as I can to the joys of playing piano. I want you to experience what I experience.

The pace of life in the 21st Century can be frantic. If you feel that you're on a treadmill that's programmed to get faster, and faster, and faster, it's time to take back control and integrate some calmness-generating activities into your lifestyle – playing piano is one of those activities.

So, have you got a piano (or keyboard) yet? If not, that's your first step.

If you do already have a piano/keyboard, try setting aside 5 minutes today to make some music. (Don't overthink this – just play around on the notes, listening to the combinations of sounds you produce – do it without judgement, just play.)

I guarantee you won't regret it.

Thanks for reading,

Ian