Music has the power to move people, affect their emotions, and connect them to others in a very positive way. However, the creative process and the reality of the music industry can be challenging and stressful at times for musicians. Developing a career in music takes time, and it can be easy to compare yourself to others and put all your energy into “making it”. It’s important to take a step back for the sake of musicians mental health and find tools to keep your creative spirits up. Musicians, and artists in general, are often at risk for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other mental illnesses. This could be due to the high competition, hectic lifestyle, need for recognition, and finding regular work to make a living. Studies have shown that being a creative person also makes you a more sensitive person: you may feel everything more intensely, both the good and bad days. Here are some strategies that musicians can use to take care of their mental health and develop a healthy relationship with their practice.
1. Pace yourself and get some sleep
If certain aspects of your music career have become stressful, the first thing to do is slow down, pace yourself, and get some sleep. It may seem obvious, but a good night’s sleep can do a lot of good! Often musicians underestimate the importance of getting sleep- especially when they’re on the road touring or staying up late to finish writing their new tracks. To cope with the intense rhythm, some turn to drug-use and alcohol, easily picking up habits that aren’t always healthy for their wellbeing. Some artists deal with insomnia, that can lead to hyperactivity or even panic attacks. Try listening to your body and notice the warning signs before they start affecting your mental health. After all, you need to rest in order to create. Especially if you are dealing with anxiety disorders, mental-illness, grief, or anything else that feels traumatic, make sure to be careful not to push yourself too hard.
2. Clear your mind regularly and stop comparing yourself to others
As artists, it can be difficult to create when our mind is full of noise. Perhaps this is how some artists create- by clearing their mind of the noise and turning it into music! Nonetheless, it’s important to find a balance to keep your mental health in check. When your mind is focused on so many things at once, it can be hard to move forward and create music in peace. This could be our own obsessive thoughts over our own musical projects, fixating on that concert where you messed up, or comparing yourself to others. Try to do a quick mental health assessment once in a while to check in with yourself, see where you’re at, and make a list of what’s been on your mind.
Often musicians can go into depressive states when they see others around them who are succeeding- the classic, “why them and not me?” question arises. Just because someone else is “making it” doesn’t mean that you are a failure. Jealousy can became dangerous very quickly! Next time you see an artist get an opportunity that you would have liked to have, recognize how you’re feeling, and try and separate yourself from it- as if it were a heavy coat you’ve been wearing all winter. What insecurities are hiding underneath that layer of jealousy? Perhaps a feeling of worthlessness that you’re not “enough”. Just because someone else is shining or receiving recognition doesn’t mean that you are lacking! Try to feel happy for that person, congratulate them on their success, and remind yourself why you make music in the first place. If you spend all your time wondering “why them and not me?”, you’ll have little time left for doing what you actually love. It’s easier said than done and sometimes can be more difficult for others depending on brain chemistry and mental health problems. Be patient with yourself.
There is no doubt that social media can be a trigger for anxiety and depression, especially among adolescents and young adults, so be conscious to take breaks once in a while. Social media can contribute to attention deficit problems, in adulthood as well! We easily develop a dependence to our phones and social media platforms without really realizing it. Taking breaks can be crucial for mental health, especially for musicians living with self-esteem issues, symptoms of depression, or feelings of hopelessness. Try to do some meditation or yoga, go out for a walk in nature, exercise, journal, or clear your mind by decluttering your house!
3. Work hard, set goals, and track your progress
To keep a steady rhythm, it’s important to work hard, set goals and track your progress. These could be small tasks in your daily-life to get the creative juices flowing or bigger aspirations that take more long-term planning. It helps to stay organized. Just as it is important to clear your mind and take breaks once in awhile, it’s important to set goals for yourself and be disciplined. Set goals to take time to clear your mind and time to focus on one task at a time. Let’s take the example of feeling jealous of another artist’s success. There is a way to turn this negative feeling into a productive and positive one! How did the artist get said opportunity? What was the leading cause that led to their success? A good PR agent, a motivated manager, or just sheer luck? Don’t be afraid to reach out to other artists and ask questions. Fellow artists can serve as a great support group for navigating the industry!
4. Be resilient: don’t wait for everything to come easily to you
Learn how to be resilient and don’t wait for everything to come easily to you. It can be mentally challenging to be resilient and most of all, persistent in the music industry. But it is possible! You should prioritize your well-being first and foremost, but know that sometimes you need to learn how to bounce back to move forward. Not everything is going to be easy, and if it was, where would the reward be? Learning how to be resilient and work hard will pay off in the end.
5. Don’t stay isolated if it makes you feel bad
If you find yourself having a hard time developing your musical project on your own, you don’t have to stay isolated. You can reach out to music industry professionals on Groover to try and get support in developing your career. Send your music directly to managers, labels, bookers, media and more and get a response guaranteed within 7 days. Even just receiving feedback on your project can help point you in the right direction, make you feel more confident, or point out your weak spots. If you want to figure out what kind of partner you need to advance your project (booker, publicist, manager, etc), check out our article on the topic here. Often peer support can also be very beneficial to musicians mental health. By getting together with fellow musicians and artists, you can share what you’re going through and see what it’s like for others. You’ll soon realize that everyone is in the same boat at the end of the day!
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6. Learn how to accept criticism
One of the most valuable skills you can develop as an artist is to learn how to accept criticism. It can be hard at first, sometimes even leading to manic phases of distress or sadness. Artists often can take criticism very personally and sometimes it can interfere with them creating their art in the first place. Try to look at criticism as being constructive– as an opportunity to improve your practice or approach. Yes, some criticism will just be outright negative opinions or judgements. You must learn how to understand the difference. For example, if you send your track to a music playlist on Groover and get rejected, try to understand why. Perhaps you targeted the wrong genre or your sound isn’t quite what they’re looking for. Stay positive and know that you can’t please everyone!
7. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket: when one door closes, another opens
Make sure not to put all of your eggs in one basket. This means that you shouldn’t rely on just one opportunity or one professional partner (like a label or a manager) to be the catalyst for your successes. You’re in charge of your future– you and you alone. This also means that if you don’t get a certain opportunity or build a relationship with someone in the industry, not all is lost. There is not one way to be successful, and success looks different to different people. When one door closes, another opens. Remembering this is super important for musicians mental health.
8. Actively seek out opportunities and keep your head up!
If you keep busy in actively seeking out opportunities, it will be easier to keep up your creative spirits. Keep in mind that not all opportunities that come along will be the best- like with any job, there are certain aspects that are amazing and others, not so much. Let’s say you played a corporate event and were relegated to background music. It may not be the most attentive audience but you nailed your performance anyway! Try to see the positive side of every opportunity. Sometimes it helps to look in unexpected places to find music opportunities that can also help your mental health. For some, this could mean giving back to the community and sharing your talents with those who will appreciate them the most. This could be anything from playing live in a retirement home to sharing your music with children who want to learn how to play an instrument. Know that you have a lot to offer, even if you’re not on the Billboard charts! Often making music and singing with others can quickly remind you of why you chose music in the first place.
9. Musicians mental health: get back to why you love music
Building a career in music takes work. It can be easy for some and hard for others, but I think we can all agree that it has its ups and downs. It’s not a one way ticket to paradise. There will be bumps in the road that you can learn from and also days you’ll be cruising along smoothly, riding with the wind in your hair. Sometimes you may have a mental breakdown, mood swings, or just a loss of interest in what you do- and that’s okay. You’re only human! Some studies show that musicians are more likely to experience bipolar disorder and more depression and anxiety than in other professions, so it’s important to notice the signs and symptoms and know when to get help. Don’t be ashamed or afraid to seek out therapies and self-help resources to keep on top of your mental health.
At the end of the day, it’s important to enjoy yourself and get back to why you love music in the first place. If it is costing you your mental health or affecting your physical health, think about taking a break and getting a change of scenery. Slowing down and dealing with your emotional health, anxiety, or depression will make things easier in the long run. Especially if family members, a loved one, or health professional has expressed concern for your wellbeing in relation to your music career, try to listen to them with an open mind. See if you can eliminate the stressors and put your mental health needs first. If you keep these tips in mind, hopefully you can keep your creative spirits up and live your best artist life to the fullest!
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