Kody Myhra March 27, 2022
Near the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I realized that I felt different. I felt more sluggish and less motivated. The longer the pandemic lead on, the more these feelings of fatigue, burnout, and lack of motivation became a problem. I tried to figure out the cause of these problems, but being in quarantine, I couldn't think of any solutions. Then, upon going back to school in the fall of 2020, I knew something was off. I wouldn't get out of bed, I wouldn't want to practice, and I wouldn't want to go anywhere or do anything. Something was wrong, and I had to make a choice.
Since figuring out that something was off with me mentally and physically, I am now doing a lot better. I figured that maybe a few lifestyle changes could make things better. I changed my diet, started exercising, journaling, and even reading (and if you know me, I will NEVER read a book even if my life depended on it 😅). Today, I figured I would share these lifestyle changes that I went through that actually ended up benefitting my musicianship and playing as well as my overall health:
1: Making a daily routine
This is one of the very first things I took on when it came to my health and schooling situation. Making routines for myself allowed me to take control of every day and keep myself on track. DISCLAIMER: it is a VERY difficult task to take on when you aren't used to doing a routine! Forming a morning routine, practice routine, night routine, self-care routine, and any other routine takes time and consistency to develop. One thing I like to do to make sure I'm sticking to my routine every day is creating a chart with everything I need to get done in my routine. Once I finish a task, I will color in a square on my chart. This keeps me motivated to keep completing my tasks and to fill up the entire chart.
Creating these different routines gave me time to figure out when I can fit in my practice every day. Having checklists and set times to do things is one way to get myself motivated. I write down everything I need to get done in my practice session, and start checking off my tasks when they are finished. Giving myself incentive to finish the sessions as well can be another huge motivator. Maybe watching a movie or going out for dinner can be an incentive to look forward to after your practice session. The list goes on!
2. Exercise!
I know that this can be a hassle to fit into a busy schedule, but exercising has given me so much more energy during the day, especially when I'm practicing. Creating an exercise routine to follow 4 to 6 times a week can greatly improve your overall health, but also a lot of physical aspects in our playing. Your air quality can increase, tense limbs can reduce, and your mentality can greatly improve. Exercising is not only a physical gain, but also a mental gain. As musicians, it is very important for us to take care of our bodies, because we use so much of them to play our instruments.
3. Journaling
I have stated this in many of my posts, but journaling has truly helped me. It helps me to speak my mind, allowing words to spill out on the page and not towards others. I love the concept of writing my ideas in a book that I can keep forever. I can look back on what I wrote later and see how much my health has improved mentally and physically since past years. You can really do so much with just a pen and paper. If you're interested in seeing some of my blog posts about journaling, I will link them below!⬇️⬇️⬇️
Happy Practicing!
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