2020 greeted us with the COVID-19 lockdown. We began 2021 hopeful that the strident rules to curb the spread of the virus will be done with. Alas, for us music lovers, the story hasn’t changed that much.

At the start of 2021, we were greeted with more bad news. The truth is, the coronavirus pandemic has and is still affecting virtually every preplanned event. Just a couple of weeks back, BST Hyde Park announced that the 2021 music festival scheduled for July is cancelled. For the second year in a row, CMA Fest is cancelling its annual festival, but not without giving a new date. Unlike Coachella, who cancelled theirs without announcing any new date.

With so much bad news here and there, will the situation ever improve? How can a music lover cope with this news? Beyond this, how can a music lover cope with festival anxiety when it resumes? Are there ways to go through this grief? We will leave you to make that conclusion yourself at the end of this article. Below is a guide to help you go through these various phases.

When it comes to festival anxiety

Festival anxiety is one thing ardent music fans have to deal with. The lights, the mammoth crowd, the loud music, distortion of sensory inputs, etc., all these things build up your anxiety in no time. Need we add the endless cycle of sleepless nights you have to put up with? Whenever you’re in a situation that can trigger the feeling of anxiety, some things you can do are:

Have a cold drink in hand. 

Preferably energy drinks because they improve brain functions. How? Energy drinks increase the concentration of dopamine in your brain by slowing its degradation. As we all know, dopamine is a pleasure hormone. What more? They make you more alert.

Infusing a non-energy drink with quality CBD is a good idea as well. 

Here is a helpful guide that will improve your knowledge of CBD. CBD reduces anxiety and depression and has many other health benefits.

Go with someone. 

It could be a friend, a family member, or someone you love. Besides enjoying the festival together, it’s an opportunity to take advantage of the event to create a connection and build a strong relationship together. We’ve put together a list of things you should think about.

Get a good night’s sleep on the eve of the concert. 

Quality sleep is good for your mental health. Good sleep can also boost your concentration by reducing stress. The consequence of not having a good sleep on the eve of the festival is one reason behind having anxiety at festivals. Poor sleep will mess your brain up right before the festival begins. Last but not least on my helpful guide in dealing with festival anxiety is to…

Eat enough food and drink enough water. 

Not eating enough is bad for your blood sugar. Your brain needs sugar to power its activity. Imagine the dancing, the focus, the boundless zest, etc., with poor blood sugar? It’s like hitting the road on a long journey with little fuel in your tank. You’ll not only end up spent but in bad shape. Real bad shape.

When it comes to coping with cancellation

Let’s face it, having your favourite music festival cancelled is synonymous with coping with grief. The coronavirus pandemic alone has messed our mental health up badly. The feeling of bereavement, loss of income, abrupt change in routines, change in pay checks, etc., is enough to shut anyone down. The first step to coping is to do the things below..

Admit you’re disappointed. 

You don’t have to act all strong or try to fake that it’s not big deal. Allow me to spell it out to you; it is a big deal. The first step to mental health healing is to admit that everything is not right. If you admit it, you can manage it.

Look for alternatives. 

Music festivals are dear to us all. But don’t dwell on the cancellations and postponements for too long. Life goes by without you even knowing. You can reconnect online with old friends, play games, develop an interest in the arts, invest in your talent, etc. For some, snuggling in bed with their loved one all day does the trick. There are no hard and fast rules in this. Go with whatever floats your boat.

Prepare in advance for the next festival. 

While it’s good not to get your hopes up too high, there’s no harm in preparing for the next festival. See the bigger picture and keep hope alive! The coronavirus challenges across all areas of our lives will hopefully pass sooner rather than later.