Not all sources of creativity are created equal. While band culture may apply pressures to get high or drunk to be at your most creative, it may not offer the inspiration you’re aspiring for. Your bandmates rely on you to contribute your unique ideas when writing music. Instead of defaulting to what other musicians have tried and touted, test out some of the following healthy tips for musical inspiration.
What Defines an Unhealthy Creativity Booster
First, you must define what activities are unhealthy. Certain things are objectively not good for you in excess, such as alcohol. While many musicians like to down their drink of choice before writing, too much drinking can cause more problems than creative solutions. Alcohol affects your body and mind by impacting the central nervous system. It crosses the blood-brain barrier and leads to impaired cognitive abilities like comprehension and emotion — undeniably important aspects of creativity.
Alcohol is also a depressant, using up the serotonin in your body quickly. This can cause dramatic shifts in mood and trauma to resurface. While moody themes are typically good subjects for songs, the alcohol will inhibit you from being able to adequately express those themes and perform. Substance abuse of any kind can impair your behavior, motor skills, and ability to make coherent decisions.
A study done at the University of Essex on creativity revealed that cognitive manipulation drugs are actually the least effective — or ineffective entirely — at creativity enhancement. Instead, training, meditation, and exposure to cultural experiences influenced creativity most effectively in participants. Although drug use is often romanticized in the music world, it may be more beneficial for you to try other avenues.
Other unhealthy habits that aren’t as obvious but still thwart creative efforts include procrastination, avoidance, inactivity, perfectionism, and fear of failure. These ways of thinking and behaving can stifle creativity. The pressure to maintain a certain image or lifestyle can push musicians toward self-destructive behaviors, but this only diverts your focus from genuine exploration of artistic expression. Instead, you embark on a perilous road of temporary highs with lasting consequences.
Focus on Mental and Physical Wellness
You want the best for your band. Fostering mental wellness in yourself and your bandmates is crucial for your overall health and plays a pivotal role in enhancing creativity during the music-writing process. Collaborative efforts to prioritize mental well-being create a supportive environment where you and your bandmates can openly communicate and share their thoughts and feelings. This emotional connection can strengthen the bond between members, fostering trust and understanding that translates to the page and the stage.
When you all feel secure and acknowledged, you are more likely to explore diverse ideas and experiment with creative ideas freely. Moreover, a mentally healthy band is better equipped to navigate challenges, resolve conflicts constructively, and sustain a positive atmosphere, all of which contribute to a more harmonious and inspiring musical journey. Mental health and creative output go hand-in-hand, so try to incorporate some of the following into your and your bandmates’ routines:
- Regular exercise;
- Plenty of sleep;
- Eating healthily;
- Changing up your environment.
While it doesn’t seem traditionally “cool” to do these things, your music and band relationships will flourish if you take care of yourselves first. Positive daily habits improve your musicality by improving your stamina, cardiovascular health, and mental clarity.
Bond Over Fun Activities
Bandmates forging bonds through enjoyable activities rather than succumbing to unhealthy habits is a transformative approach to bolstering creativity in the music industry. By engaging in positive, novel experiences together, you and your band members can create a sense of camaraderie that extends beyond rehearsals and shows. This not only strengthens personal connections but also introduces diverse perspectives and shared memories that you can write about together. Consider:
- Group outings, like ziplining or exploring cool locations;
- Shared hobbies, like golf or video games;
- Collaborative projects outside of music, such as building houses for a non-profit.
Low morale can be a real creativity stifler and can stem from various sources, including interpersonal conflicts, creative differences, or external pressures. To counteract this, work on team cohesion and morale. Strategies such as regular communication and creating a culture of mutual respect can mitigate conflicts and provide a supportive foundation for innovative thinking. A united and connected band is better equipped to navigate the challenges of the music industry, inspiring each member to bring their unique creativity to the forefront.
Moving Forward
All this to say, it doesn’t mean that you and your band won’t hit bumps in the road or fall into creative ruts. That’s normal. By avoiding unhealthy coping behaviors and encouraging your band to work together, you will make it through these hurdles. If you prioritize your wellness, resolve conflicts constructively, and embrace shared experiences, you and your bandmates can cultivate a collaborative spirit that propels your music to new heights.
By Indiana Lee.