{"id":20650,"date":"2022-03-29T17:17:36","date_gmt":"2022-03-29T21:17:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/?p=20650"},"modified":"2025-10-09T17:57:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T21:57:22","slug":"self-care-musicians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/self-care-musicians\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-care for musicians: Why it’s important and how to practice it"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Illustration:<\/strong> Leo Peng<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a 2019 report,<\/strong><\/a> 73% of independent musicians experience symptoms of mental illness in relation to their music careers.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The unpredictability of making a living from creative work, the challenges of navigating the music industry, and the constant pressure to \u201chustle\u201d<\/a> make it easy for things like stress, burnout, low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression to creep in. Throw in a global pandemic, and it\u2019s not hard to see why more and more musicians have been suffering. In the face of all of this, one simple, highly effective, yet often overlooked solution that can help maintain our physical\u2014and more importantly, mental\u2014wellbeing is self-care.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, if you\u2019re rolling your eyes at the words \u201cself-care,\u201d it\u2019s because the term has been extremely overused and grossly misunderstood. When most people think of self-care, they think of face masks and bubble baths. Yes, these are absolutely forms of self-care, but it\u2019s also so much more than that. It\u2019s about looking out for yourself and setting yourself up to feel and perform at your best. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also not selfish or self-indulgent. In fact, getting yourself to do the things you know are good for you is often extremely hard. It can take a lot of effort to cook a healthy meal or take time away from work to recharge yourself. But it always feels better when you\u2019ve done it, and in the long term, it can drastically improve your overall wellbeing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-care is something absolutely everyone should implement into their lives, but it can be especially helpful for musicians, artists, and anyone who does any kind of creative work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, let\u2019s talk about what exactly self-care is, why it\u2019s important for musicians, and what you can do to start taking better care of yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is self-care?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Self-care simply means taking care of your physical and mental wellbeing. We\u2019re all unique, so it can look very different from one person to the next, but the ultimate goal is always the same\u2014to take care of your needs, maintain good health, and remain resilient through challenging circumstances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to note that while self-care often involves adding healthy activities and habits into your life, it can also mean refraining from the things that you know are bad for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is self-care important for musicians?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As creatives, we often fail to draw a line between our work and our identity. When we experience criticisms or setbacks in our music career\u2014which almost always stem from someone\u2019s subjective point of view and should never be taken as fact\u2014we see them as personal failures. As a result, our self-esteem and, consequently, mental health tend to suffer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, trying to build a career in music is no walk in the park. The industry is highly competitive, it\u2019s constantly changing, and there\u2019s no single right way to do anything. In other words, the path is littered with failure, rejection, and disappointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, there are also incredible moments to look forward to, but you want to be able to 1) stay in the game long enough to experience them, and 2) stay happy and healthy enough to fully appreciate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where self-care comes in. When you set aside time to take care of yourself, you have a better chance of staying resilient in the face of challenges and enjoying a long, fruitful, and fulfilling career in music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are some of the main benefits of self-care in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Self-care helps develop a positive self-image<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Engaging in activities that promote good physical and mental health\u2014while saying \u201cno\u201d to bad habits and things that don\u2019t serve you\u2014produces positive feelings and improves self-esteem. You can feel proud of yourself for taking responsibility for your wellbeing and choosing only what\u2019s best for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. It makes you more creative and productive<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re well rested, balanced, and generally feeling good, you\u2019re much more likely to produce your best work. Your motivation, concentration, and productivity also tend to improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. It helps manage stress<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Stressful situations are inevitable, but you can counteract their effect on your body and mind by intentionally choosing calming activities, breathing exercises, and positive thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. It makes you more resilient<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re operating at your best, you\u2019re much more likely to persevere through challenging situations, view failure as a learning opportunity, and maintain a positive attitude about yourself and your future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. It creates a healthy work-life balance<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a dangerous misconception that in order to be successful, musicians need to constantly hustle and work day and night on creating and promoting their music. The truth is, it\u2019s those who understand the importance of resting, recharging, and taking care of themselves who enjoy prosperous and long-lasting careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. It prevents burnout<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pursuing a career in music can often feel like a marathon,<\/a> except the track isn\u2019t paved, you don\u2019t really know where you\u2019re going, and you have no idea how long it\u2019s going to take. Taking the time to stop, rest, and attend to your needs will help prevent burnout<\/a> and keep you energized and motivated for the long haul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. It can help prevent or reduce anxiety and depression<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Self-care is absolutely vital for maintaining good mental health.<\/a> If you\u2019re experiencing anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges, self-care means identifying and making use of tools that can help you deal with negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re generally doing okay, but are overwhelmed with everything you have to deal with, self-care can help you better manage life\u2019s stressors and prevent more serious issues from rising up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. It supports your overall health and wellbeing<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Your music career aside, self-care is simply part of living a healthy, happy life. When you take care of your body, mind, and emotional needs, you operate at an optimal level and see it reflected across all areas of your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to implement self-care into your life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you understand why self-care is important, let\u2019s go over three steps you can take to implement it into your own life and see its benefits for yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Cover the basics<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There are countless ways to take care of yourself, but there are a few key things you can do that will make a massive difference. These are things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n