A recent article in the Wall Street Journal describes the results of a research study that examined which activities worked best to lift people’s moods during the COVID pandemic. Sex and drugs were among the 43 options participants could choose from, along with exercise, cooking, social media, video calls, and various types of entertainment.
The study involved 1,000 participants from the U.S., Europe, and Latin America and looked at what people considered their most effective coping mechanisms during the shelter-in-place orders at the beginning of the pandemic last spring.
The study found that music, exercise, and entertainment were the most potent stress relievers for the greatest number of people. But of those three activities, music, which includes singing, dancing, playing an instrument, or just listening to a favorite playlist—was the only one that led to a reduction of depression symptoms. A fifth of all the participants reported it as the most effective way to reduce their pandemic-induced blues. Music’s calming effects were particularly potent for people who were highly sensitive to rewards.
This suggests that the more pleasure you get from music, the more it reduces your depression symptoms.
It should be noted that the study has not yet been published and thus has not yet been peer-reviewed.
But the early signs are encouraging – if the pandemic has got you down, and you’re looking for a way to boost your spirits, music seems like a great option.
So I’ll try to do my part by sharing a song and video that always puts me in a good mood. Please note that it is about six minutes long. I’m not sure who I’d rather be – Brandon Flowers, the lead singer, or a member of that audience. Either way, it’s gotta get your dopamine flowing…
I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier…
I feel sad for all the people losing their livelihoods, but I wouldn’t say that I feel depressed. For me, coping with the pandemic involves being sneaky and breaking the rules. I always feel delighted when I can get away with breaking a rule. It’s kind of a fun cat-and-mouse game.
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probably the one rule I break most often is not ashing my hands for 20 seconds…
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For me it’s the quarantining when returning from out of state. Seems totally ridiculous, to me.
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it’s because you got the cooties…
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I’m not sure what works best for me. Music provides a boost but I need more than one thing. I guess all of the above was not a choice? 😄
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And I’m sure what works one day may not work another…
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Exactly
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I’m part of that group as I listen to music nearly every night. I also walk each day. That is as much for my mental health as it is for the physical. I don’t watch as much television or movies as most people, but I love watching anything involving competition (preferably sports.) I guess that would count as my entertainment.
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I also enjoy watching anything dealing with competition. I saw the national cornhole championships were on tv this past weekend…
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Before COVID, we were at a party, and people were playing cornhole the whole time. I’ve watched a few minutes of that on television and am astounded by how accurate the throwers are.
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not as good as Patrick Mahomes appears to be on the commercial… 🙂
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Making bread and cooking I suppose are my boredom breakers…while listening to music…
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cooking was also a very popular response. and you’re getting double your money’s worth with the music!
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If I listen to music, my young, upstairs neighbours complain…
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that seems like the opposite of what one would expect 🙂
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I may have been born thirty years before them, but theyare probably older than me 😉
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good way to put it… 🙂
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🙂
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I agree that there is a natural uplifting power with music, obviously somewhat dependent on what you listen to. But for me laughter is truly the best medicine. Whether it is watching a stand-up comedian work their magic, enjoying the latest comedic movie, or just sitting with friends and laughing at ourselves. It is hard to feel depressed when you are laughing from your gut.
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great point about the healing power of laughter. If I want a mood boost, I’ll often look for an episode of King of Queens…
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I totally agree! 🙂
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You can probably guess that I’m in agreement with the survey results, as evidenced by the amount of posts I’ve devoted to music over the past nine months since we went into our first national lockdown.
As for that Killers concert, my daughter and son-in-law were there and it really was as good as you’d imagine from the video – you can read my mind on that…
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I knew you would be on board.
I am so jealous of your daughter and son-in-law. It must have been an amazing concert…
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She said it was one of the best she’s ever been to. I was jealous too, and the RAH is a great venue.
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I think when we were in London a few years ago and walked past the RAH it was under construction…
at least the concert was recorded so that more people could enjoy it…
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That must have been reconstruction, as it dates back to Victorian times: the clue is in the name…
I hadn’t realised it had been recorded, but I’ll look for it on YouTube.
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I noticed that there is a Blu-Ray DVD of the concert for sale on Amazon. But many of the individual songs can be found on YouTube…
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Yes, it’s available here too, but at a premium price! I think I’ll stick with YouTube 😊
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I thought it was a bit pricey as well…
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I’d forgotten how much I love The Killers music. Thank you, Jim. X
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they have a lot of great music, and they look like they would be fun to see in concert…
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yay, thanks for this share, I enjoy the kiilers, and I agree, music is so lifting –
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👍
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Good, uplifting song. I was interested in the “people who are sensitive to rewards” part of the study. I love studies that show how the results are not universal and consider the spectrum of the human condition.
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yes, that was an interesting twist to the study. Good to know that we are all so unique…
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“The study found that music, exercise, and entertainment were the most potent stress relievers for the greatest number of people. But of those three activities, music, which includes singing, dancing, playing an instrument, or just listening to a favorite playlist—was the only one that led to a reduction of depression symptoms. A fifth of all the participants reported it as the most effective way to reduce their pandemic-induced blues. ”
This has been my experience too….dance music combined with movement (tennis), outside, with my son turns my mood and energy level right around.
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and I am sure experiencing the music and movement with somebody enhances the favorable impact…
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Music had always been a stress reducer for me. Back when I had a piano you could always tell my mood by the song I would play and my interpretation of it! I might need to get a keyboard and bring that back into my life!
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nice that you can play music to fit your mood; or that the song you play could change your mood… 🙂
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I would be the drummer – I have always wanted to bash away on drums of any sort and drums would be a great depression lifter. I thought the building looked familiar – The Royal Albert Hall – I wasn’t there that night though.
Music of all sorts is definitely top of the list to boost ones’ feelings.
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the drummer does have a unique vantage point.
Have you been to the Royal Albert Hall? It looks like a great venue…
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Yes, mainly for The Proms – world’s greatest music festival. One of the great creations of the Victorians in this part of London, South Kensington – all to celebrate the life of Prince Albert. His huge statue is opposite the Albert Hall in Kensington Gardens.
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ahhh… that should familiar. I think you had told me about the Proms before. We walked past the front of RAH a couple of years ago, but it looked like it was having some work done on it at the time. That is a nice part of London…
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I love the Killers! Anyway, it has been exercise that’s helped me cope through the pandemic, that’s for sure. I mean, exercise is the panacea to everything.
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exercise is the closest thing we have to a magic bullet…
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I absolutely love The Killers- their music always makes me feel better! Did you know Brandon Flowers’ favourite fruit is nectarine? Don’t ask me how I know that lol!
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I did not know that fun fact – thanks for sharing! 🙂
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I did not listen to music more than usual while we were in hard lockdown.
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you had your baking to keep you busy! 🙂
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Quite a performance. Pre-Covid, obviously. 🙂
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it is a great performance, from 2009…
the good old days 🙂
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Not too old!
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true!
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Still coping and living here! I agree with the value of music (been listening to more). I also find peace from my writing (keep the ol’ mind working) and strength from my exercising (almost 65 but feeling much younger). Have a great rest of the week Jim.
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sounds like you have found some great ways to cope during COVID. Stay young!
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Great post! Music is always a go-to! Engaging in hobbies and projects also takes the bore out of lock down. Here’s hoping that we can defeat Covid in the new year.
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thanks for your comments, Cherie! Fingers crossed for a better 2021…
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You’re welcome, Jim. Same here. 🙂
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