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Writer's pictureKody Myhra
Feb 22, 20225 min read

How To Take An Effective Break

Kody Myhra February 22, 2022



Here's the thing: everyone gets tired. Whether it be physically, mentally, or emotionally, we all feel exhausted from time to time. Especially nearing the end of one of the largest global pandemics to date, feeling even all of the above is extremely common. The signs of fatigue can all be interpreted differently, but a few of the common ones (for musicians in general) can include poor coordination, tired muscles, inability to recover from physical exertion, irregular sleep patterns, burnout, depression, anxiety, and so much more.


As a student who has experienced most if not all of the symptoms above, it is extremely difficult to tell when these things have consumed your life. Being able to tell yourself "I'm exhausted and need a break" can be a super difficult task when your to-do list is full, your performances are frequent, and your practice schedule has been overbearing. But besides it being difficult, it is very necessary to admit you are exhausted. As much as we musicians think that taking a break is ineffective because playing an instrument or singing requires that physical exertion, there are many ways to effectively refuel and regain strength physically and mentally all while incorporating work into your schedule. Here are 5 ways to effectively take a break as a musician or performing artist:


1. Listen to recordings and take notes.

This can be one of the most effective ways to give yourself a break, but still get work done. Listening to recordings can help us as musicians to develop musical interpreting decisions and opinions, or decide how we as a performer want to play our music to our standards and interpretations. Taking this step to better yourself can also be relaxing! Listening to your music at a coffee shop or in a calming environment can reduce your stress levels all while still working. Things you can note in certain recording can include the following questions:

  • What is the emotion being portrayed in the recording? How is it being portrayed?

  • Is the piece of music written for your instrument or a different one? What are the similarities and differences between your instrument's recording and the original instrument's recording?

  • What musical details do you like? What do you dislike?

  • Is there an accompaniment? Are there any major spots that need to be queued on your part?

  • Are there spots you can write in accompaniment queues in your music for yourself to remember later?

  • What story does this piece portray? Write your own narrative!


2. Take a scheduled nap

Sometimes, putting a nap into your schedule can be very beneficial. Naps give our body a little extra time to recuperate in the middle of the day and gain a little extra energy for later on. I know when I physically write in or plan a nap into my busy schedule, I look forward to it all day, and afterwards, I feel a lot more energized and ready to take on the second half of the day.

Although naps can be a very pleasant experience, they can also become a very addicting experience as well. It is so easy to skip the alarm at the end of the nap and keep sleeping. I recommend keeping your naps between 15 minutes and an hour. I find in my experience that sleeping any longer than an hour makes me feel groggy and lifeless when I get up again. Taking short naps is rejuvenating, taking long naps makes your body think it is going to sleep for a longer period of time, as if you were going to bed.

If you feel that naps are not making you feel better, but rather making you more tired, I highly recommend seeing a doctor or nutritionist. During the pandemic, I found out that I was lacking a lot of essential vitamins for my body, which made my body feel tired every hour of the day. Naps did not replenish the need to sleep, and it was very hard to wake myself up. So, if the fatigue doesn't stop, I recommend testing your vitamin levels through a doctor.


3. Exercise

Now, I know what you may be thinking: isn't exercising not really giving yourself a break? To some, yes. Exercising requires a lot of physical exertion, and some people are not looking for that kind of movement. To me and many others, exercise has a lot to do with intention.

When I say intention, I mean the reason we exercise. If you're exercising just to exercise, then there's no real intention behind why you're taking the step to do any sort of physical activity. But, if you're exercising to better yourself, be a healthier person, form better habits, and so on, the intention behind the act of exercising has a lot more meaning and purpose. I began my exercise and workout journey this past January, and to say the least, it is very liberating. I get to be in charge of what I do, when I do it, all while bettering myself for myself. The hour to hour-and-a-half's worth of time I spend at the gym is time for me to focus on myself, which is what I look for in taking a break.

Luckily, exercising can be a hobby you can incorporate into your daily schedule. Personally, I like to write out my schedule in a table with times everything occurs, and after that, I figure out the best time for me to go to the gym or move my body in any way. If you do decide to go to the gym or begin to exercise, be sure not to strain yourself too hard, and take breaks when necessary for your body.


4. Journaling or Writing

One of my most favorite pastimes is writing in my bullet journal. I have a vast amount of entries ranging from regular writing, drawings, and charts that I fill out every day. A lot of these things I depend on to keep me on track for the day, or even remind me of things I need to get done. To top it all off, I get to use really pretty pens, markers, stickers, washi tapes, and many more fun and crafty mediums. If you are the kind of person who likes to incorporate a little crafty activity into your daily life, journaling is a highly reccomended option! Below are some scans of pages that I have made in my bullet journal for you to reference and get your creativity flowing.



5. Listen to Happy Music!

Sometimes, as musicians, we tend to forget that there is other music in the world other than what we are performing. It happens to all of us! If you find yourself needing to mix up your playlist or listen to music other than what you've been focusing on for so long, here are a few links to get you started! These links range from YouTube playlists, Spotify playlist, and song reccomendations:


YouTube Links:


Spotify Links:


Song Recommendations:

  • Runaway (U and I) by Galantis

  • Heat Waves by Glass Animals

  • Sunflower by Post Malone and Swae Lee

  • Dancing Queen by ABBA

  • The Good Part by AJR

  • Don't Stop Me Now by Queen

  • Dancing's Not A Crime by Panic! At The Disco

  • Enemy by Imagine Dragons, JID

  • Where Are You Now by Lost Frequencies and Calum Scott

  • 100 Bad Days by AJR


In my time in college, I learned that taking breaks is a necessary part of learning and living. Whether you need an hour or a few days worth of a break, don't beat yourself up. Taking breaks is supposed to relieve our stress or worries so that when we come back to our work, we approach it differently and with more patience in ourselves. Whatever you decide to do, I'm here to support you and tell you that you can make the right decisions for yourself. You are capable and worthy of doing anything you want. Take care of yourselves, and Happy Practicing! (or 'break'ing) (:

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