Can playing an instrument at work help you deal with stress

If you work in an environment where you don’t have the option to pick up a guitar and strum a few chords during the working day, you might want to show this article to your boss. It seems the benefits of learning a musical instrument are never ending. New research shows that those who play an instrument make better drivers, and we’ve previously covered a whole range of other benefits, including improving memory, social and maths skills, and even helping people recover from a stroke.

Now, researchers in Sweden have found that playing musical instruments during the working day have great benefits on workplace health. Employees at Swedish company We Consulting started a band and learned to play instruments during working hours. None of the members could play an instrument beforehand, but spent four months learning and then performed at a concert. It turns out that playing music can be a stress-coping mechanism, which can help improve wellness at work.

“When you play a musical instrument, the oxytocin hormone levels in the body increase, which in turn improves well-being and helps the body to defend itself against stress,” said Töres Theorell, a professor at Karolinska institute who has conducted research into the positive effects of making music.

“Making music clearly has a creative effect on a group or individual. It increases emotional capacity and ultimately reduces the risk of burnout.”