Why Leave Home? Play Your Piano Instead!

How often have you thought, "oh, I just wish I could get away for a day"?

We get so socked into our routines that sometimes that annual trip to the coast or the mountains just doesn't last all year long and not long after we've had a good break, we're really in need for another one. 

Actually cramming all of our vacation time into just one week each year leads to a lot more stress than it does relaxation. Studies have shown that people seem to get more satisfaction and relaxing benefits from shorter and more frequent "get aways" than just one longer one, once a year. 

But...how realistic is this for most of us that have budgets to consider and time schedules that are too full to allow for more fun time?!

Well there is great news for pianists; and actually musicians of all types. Playing your piano gives your brain and mind and body the same type of relaxation benefits that a short vacation does!

In fact, this is so incredibly successful that a group of psychiatrists who were attending a conference were given the opportunity to go and play the piano in between meetings. The reason for this was so that the psychiatrists could use the piano to de-stress and relax. And it worked! 

A speaker from the National Piano Foundation said, "​When I play the piano, I am able to get away from the daily challenges. It’s like taking a mini vacation. By the time I walk away from the piano, I am truly relaxed.” 

How is it that playing the piano can be just as relaxing as a small vacation? 

According to Music Therapists, playing the piano takes the same kind of concentration and focus as doing mediation, yoga, exercise, or any similar activity. It's the process of bringing all of your attention to the task and that draws your energy and thoughts away from everything else; just like we do when we're away from home physically. 

Further, we experience a lot of satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment from playing something well, or learning something new on the piano. This leaves us with a boost of positivity and those good feeling hormones running free, wiping out the stress and negative thoughts. 

Finally, whenever we engage in creating something - music, art, gardens, or whatever it may be, we stimulate other creative ideas in our imagination and end up doing more things; and doing them successfully. 

The next time you are feeling weighted down and frustrated because you need a break but can't get away from work or other demands, go sit down at your piano and just start playing.

Play something that you love...that makes you feel energetic, happy, revived, and most of all...de-stressed and more relaxed. Don't make a session like this about practicing at first...just start playing. Listen to the music and let it do its work in your heart and mind.

After-all, isn't this part of why you play the piano anyway? Now you can just add in one more benefit to your list! Happy Vacation!

​Stay Tuned to PianoLessonsOnTheWeb.com to learn much more and achieve your dream of playing the piano!