Music and wellbeing: why songs, sunshine and summer are inextricably linked
Sally Saunders
From easing anxiety to lifting low mood, music can be a powerful tool for emotional wellbeing. As we look forward to sunshine, festivals and feel-good playlists, Dr Kasim Usmani explains why music can do far more than simply entertain.
Oh, the joy of a long weekend, bringing with it bringing with it blue skies, warm evenings, and the sound of music drifting from gardens and open windows. Whether it’s dancing barefoot in the kitchen, singing along on a road trip, or sitting in the sunshine with headphones on, many of us instinctively reach for a favourite song to soundtrack the moment.
But music’s impact goes far beyond creating the perfect summer atmosphere. For many people, it can also be a lifeline for mental health.
Why music and mental health are so closely related
Dr Kasim Usmani, a GP with years of experience supporting patients through mental health challenges, knows firsthand how powerful music can be.
“I got up to grade eight on the piano, and played the violin for a while, albeit only up to grade three,” Dr Usmani recalls. “Playing the piano for me has been very therapeutic. Whenever my fingers hit the keys, whether it’s at Waterloo Station or on my piano at home, there’s always a sense of relief, like a release. It has been quite instrumental in helping me deal with my own physical and mental issues.”
Research increasingly supports what many music lovers already feel instinctively. Engaging with music — whether listening, singing, or playing — stimulates neurological plasticity, strengthening connections between brain cells. This can improve cognitive function, support emotional regulation, and provide a welcome distraction from stress and anxiety.
As Dr Usmani describes it, music can become “an outlet for many — a cathartic process.”
For him, music has been a constant companion during stressful periods. “Even when I’m in a rush or at a station, if I get the chance to play, it helps me reset,” he says. “It allows me to process thoughts and emotions in a way words sometimes can’t.”
How music helps reduce stress and anxiety
Music engages multiple areas of the brain at once — including those linked to memory, emotion, and movement. That’s one reason it can have such a noticeable impact on mood and mental wellbeing.
“Whether it’s listening to classical compositions or playing an instrument, it empowers you,” says Dr Usmani. “It distracts you from pain, channels emotions, and gives your mind something constructive to focus on.”
And, learning an instrument isn’t just for children. Dr Usmani believes adults can benefit enormously from taking up music later in life.
“It’s never too late to start,” he says. “Picking up a new instrument can give people a sense of accomplishment, focus, and joy — they’re actively creating something, not just consuming it.”
Why music and nature can be a powerful combination
You don’t need to master the piano to experience music’s therapeutic effects. Simply listening mindfully can help lower stress hormones, slow the heart rate, and encourage relaxation — especially when combined with time outdoors.
“Music and nature are the two biggest things my patients tell me help them cope,” Dr Usmani explains. “Taking a walk, being outdoors, observing the world around you — it can be just as therapeutic as actively playing music.”
During long summer evenings, that might mean putting on a calming playlist and heading to the park, listening to music in the garden, or taking a walk with nowhere urgent to be. Even small moments like these can help create calm and perspective.
Simple ways to use music to support wellbeing
For anyone struggling with stress, anxiety, or low mood, Dr Usmani recommends introducing music in small, manageable ways. Summer can be the perfect time to reconnect with it — whether that’s building a road-trip playlist, discovering new artists, or simply slowing down enough to listen properly.
Some simple ways to integrate music into daily life include:
- Setting aside 10–15 minutes each day to listen mindfully
- Creating playlists that evoke calmness, optimism, or comfort
- Pairing music with walking, stretching, or exercise
- Singing or playing an instrument to express emotions
- Experimenting with different genres to suit different moods
- Learning an instrument, even later in life
Even dancing around the kitchen while dinner cooks or listening to a favourite song through open windows on a warm evening can have a surprisingly positive effect on mood.
Music as part of a bigger self-care picture
While music can be deeply therapeutic, Dr Usmani emphasises that it works best alongside other forms of self-care and support.
“Music isn’t a cure on its own,” he says, “but it can be a powerful part of therapy, mindfulness, movement, and connection with others.”
Rather than seeing music purely as entertainment, he encourages people to think of it as a practical tool for emotional regulation — something that can help calm a racing mind, create distance from stressful thoughts, and bring moments of joy into difficult days.
One of music’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. Whether it’s through a smartphone playlist, a community choir, an old guitar in the corner of the room, or a piano tucked inside a busy train station, engaging with music doesn’t require expertise or expensive equipment.
“It doesn’t require perfection,” Dr Usmani says. “Only participation.”
Reflecting on his own experience, he adds: “Playing the piano helped me navigate some of the most challenging periods of my life. But seeing my patients experience similar relief and empowerment has reinforced for me that music can truly be a lifeline.”
Words: Sally Saunders, Images: Shutterstock
