When you’re a full-time musician, it’s easy to feel as though you always have to be “on.” Whether you’re performing every night, writing constantly, or trying to publicize your music with interviews and appearances, keeping up your physical and mental health is important.
It can also be exhausting.
Unfortunately, your mental health can take a hit when you’re constantly overwhelmed or feeling the pressure from performing every day. That can take a toll on your creativity and leave you feeling like you’re in a rut. More importantly, it can lead to more serious mental health problems, including stress, anxiety, and depression.
Having more control over your mental well-being can better your creative output and allow you to continue doing what you love. But, that might feel easier said than done when you’re trying to find full-time success.
So, what can you do to harness your mental health?
Find Ways to Fight Creative Burnout
As an artist, experiencing writer’s block or feeling burnt out creatively can be scary – especially when you feel like there’s constant pressure to produce more music or come up with something great. Unfortunately, creative burnout can happen to anyone if you’re not prioritizing your mental well-being. Some of the common signs of creative burnout include
- A loss of passion for your music
- Decreased production
- Difficulty focusing
- Fatigue
- Not caring about the quality of your work
Chances are, you became a musician because you were passionate about it. The last thing you want is to lose that passion because you’re not taking care of yourself. Identifying exactly what’s draining your energy and causing you to lose motivation is the best way to start dealing with creative burnout.
From there, you can focus on things like saying “no” to tasks that drain you and taking better care of your physical and mental health.
Practice Self-Care
Speaking of taking better care of yourself, self-care might not sound very “rock and roll” on the surface. But, it’s a necessary practice for every musician, especially if you’re in a creative slump.
Self-care looks different for everyone. It doesn’t have to involve anything luxurious or expensive, and it doesn’t even need to take a lot of time if you’ve got a packed schedule. But, prioritize doing something each day that is solely for your well-being and relaxation. That could include things like exercising, journaling, meditating, or reading a good book.
Things like changing your diet and getting enough sleep can also be forms of self-care that improve your mental health. It’s not always easy to stay healthy as a musician, especially when you’re on the road. But, utilize the great outdoors for exercise, set up a healthy sleep routine, and make sure you’re choosing food options that won’t weigh you down.
There’s also a social aspect of self-care that shouldn’t be ignored. Even if you’re around people and fans every day, the life of a musician can get lonely. Make it a priority to connect with friends and family members as often as possible, even if it’s through a phone call or video chat. When you’re available, meet them in person. Having a support system and people to lean on can help to take a lot of pressure and stress away from your life, which can give you a much-needed creative boost.
Change Your Environment
Environment and mental health are more connected than many people realize. When you’re a full-time musician, it’s easy to feel like you’re in a creative rut when you’re stuck in the same place or around the same people every day.
For example, if you’re trying to put together an album, you might spend several hours each day in a studio. Or, maybe you’re trying to get through the writing process so you’re spending most of your time at home. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if your environment is stifling your creative process, it’s time to relocate.
In some cases, that might mean jet setting to a completely different location. Some of the best locations known to improve mental health include
- Lakes/lake houses
- Suburbs
- Rural areas
- Cities
- Sunny locations
Of course, if you don’t have the time or resources for a trip, changing your scenery can be as simple as heading to a local coffee shop or a park. You might be surprised by how much more motivated and productive you’ll feel when you’re not “stuck” in one environment every day. Even if you’re not currently in a creative rut, it’s good practice to change your location often, so you never feel stagnant with your creativity.
As a musician, creativity is crucial. Whether you’re writing songs, performing, or coming up with fresh ideas for your sound, a slump in your creative output can be frustrating.
But, it could be closely linked to your mental health. By harnessing your mental wellness and putting it first, you’re less likely to fall into those creative slumps and more likely to better your output. Keep these solutions in mind to manage your mental health, and to keep enjoying your creativity and career.
Courtesy of Indiana Lee.
