Concert Season Is Here. Your Health & Well-Being Depend On It.
Most people think I'm a little crazy when I tell them I go to 25 concerts a year.
I get it. But I won't apologize for it, especially after a 2018 study confirmed that attending live music regularly - roughly once every two weeks -is associated with living up to NINE YEARS LONGER.
Concert-goers reported a dramatic rise in feelings of well-being,at 2x the level of people doing yoga and 3x the level of people walking their dogs. I love yoga and dogs. And neither of them holds a candle to a great live set.
This isn't just about longevity, though. There's something happening in those rooms that's worth unpacking.
The term for the conditions in which humans find their greatest bliss in the present moment is collective effervescence.
For it to happen, two things have to be true at once.
You are in a flow state (i.e., you’ve lost track of time).
You are sharing a combined energy with a group of people.
The second one is key.
When you are singing along to a lyric that you've belted out your car window 100 times and 5,000 other people in that space are doing the same thing, something is happening to you chemically that is especially good for you.
This shared, high-energy experience is where self-consciousness fades, and you become part of a collective "we."
It is one of the rarest states a human being can access.
I'd argue that great stand-up comedy gets you there, too. Some make the case for sporting events, and I understand the logic. However, at a game, there's a 50% chance you're going home unhappy. I never have to worry about my favorite guitarist going 0-for-8 from three-point range.
I know the objections: you're taking time away from work, your kids, and your responsibilities. That's true. When I go to shows, I'm spending less time at the office and fewer evenings at home.
But I've found that when I come back with a full cup, I'm measurably more productive and present than I would have been had I stayed put. And there's data to back this up.
A 2023 study found that each additional unit of happiness (on a scale of 1-10) was associated with a 12% increase in productivity.
Happiness is a performance multiplier.
Going to concerts isn't a distraction from life. It's part of what makes a full life possible.
I've suggested before that I think we are in the midst of a fun recession. Many adults have forgotten that they are supposed to enjoy this human experience more.
I love a nice dinner with friends, and plan these frequently. And, I'm not here to rank experiences.
But a dinner is a fundamentally different category than a group of people losing themselves in the same moment together. Both matter, but only one of them adds nine years to your life.
Concert season is here. I currently have 22 shows on my calendar, and I'll add more soon.
What about you? Let me know if you want some recommendations!
