January in Barcelona doesn’t just bring cold weather. It brings the end of the holidays, a return to routine, the January slump, and those sunsets that appear in the sky earlier than we would like. Add to that the accumulated fatigue, and it’s not surprising that our spirits are lower than usual.
For all these reasons, this Monday, January 19 —the third Monday of the year—is known as Blue Monday, the saddest day of the year. Although the concept does not have a solid scientific basis, there is something that is backed up by studies: music has a direct influence on mood and how the body manages stress, especially in winter.
Photo: Mateo Avila Chinchilla / Unsplash
What happens in your brain when you listen to music (according to science)
When you listen to music, your brain does more than just “hear. “ As neuroscientist Daniel Levitin explains in This Is Your Brain on Music, music can directly influence brain chemistry, stimulating the production of serotonin—related to well-being—and prolactin, associated with calmness, while helping to reduce levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.
It’s no surprise, then, that when we’re tired, overwhelmed, or feeling down, music often becomes one of our first refuges. It’s not just a feeling: listening to music can slow your breathing, lower your blood pressure, and help your body come out of “alert mode.” In winter, when mental exhaustion becomes more apparent, it serves as a simple and accessible tool for regaining some balance.
Musical plans in Barcelona to get through the January blues
Barcelona offers many ways to listen to music, with a constant program of concerts, a solid scene of live music venues scattered throughout the city, and all kinds of options to lift your spirits. From musicals and free classical music series to other formats such as Candlelight, tribute concerts by candlelight, or The Jazz Room, with jazz, soul, and blues sessions at the iconic Jamboree venue.