Last updated on Sep 1, 2024

You’re a musician with a packed schedule. How can you manage your stress?

Being a musician can be a rewarding and fulfilling career, but it can also come with a lot of stress. Whether you're touring, recording, performing, or juggling multiple projects, you may feel overwhelmed by the demands and expectations of the music industry. How can you cope with the pressure and maintain your well-being? Here are some tips to help you manage your stress as a musician.

1 Identify your stressors

The first step to managing your stress is to identify what causes it. Is it the lack of control over your schedule, the uncertainty of your income, the criticism of your work, or the competition with other artists? Maybe it's a combination of these factors or something else entirely. Whatever it is, try to be honest and specific about what triggers your stress and how it affects you. This will help you find the best ways to address it.

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Brian Zhang 👻

The Mental Musician. Building a community of 200+ musicians who are mentally fit and resilient, rediscovering joy in their careers.
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The first step towards creating a fulfilling life is to gain clarity on what is most important to you, both personally and professionally. If any aspects of your life are unclear or do not align with your values, it is important to reconsider whether or not those projects and commitments are worth continuing. Clarity is the key to building a life where your actions and thoughts are by your values and principles, reflecting the most authentic version of yourself.

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Camille Jamet

Music Streaming Consultant & Career Coach | 0 to +1 Million streams for my clients in 9 months | Helping artists and pros to elevate their career | Author of “Réussir son projet musical”
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Identifying the stressors is the first step to better handle stress as it allows people to pinpoint specific causes of anxiety, fatigue, or overwhelm. This awareness enables them to take targeted actions, such as prioritizing tasks, setting boundaries, or seeking support, to reduce the impact of these stressors.

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2 Set healthy boundaries

One of the challenges of being a musician is that your work and your passion may overlap, making it hard to separate your personal and professional life. While this can be rewarding, it can also lead to burnout, exhaustion, and resentment. That's why it's important to set healthy boundaries for yourself and others. For example, you can limit the hours you work, the number of projects you take on, the amount of feedback you seek, and the time you spend on social media. You can also communicate your needs and expectations clearly to your collaborators, managers, clients, and fans. By setting boundaries, you can protect your energy, creativity, and sanity.

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Camille Jamet

Music Streaming Consultant & Career Coach | 0 to +1 Million streams for my clients in 9 months | Helping artists and pros to elevate their career | Author of “Réussir son projet musical”
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Defining clear limits on their time, energy, and commitments helps to better handle stress, preventing overworking, reducing the risk of burnout, and ensuring time for rest, creativity, and personal life. By saying no to excessive demands and protecting their personal space, musicians can maintain a healthier work-life balance, focus on priorities, and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Boundaries empower them to control their schedule, preserving both mental health and performance quality.

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3 Practice self-care

Another way to manage your stress is to practice self-care, which means taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. This can include getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising regularly, meditating, relaxing, and having fun. Self-care can also involve seeking professional help if you're struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. Don't be afraid to reach out to a therapist, counselor, or coach who can support you and help you cope. Remember, self-care is not selfish, it's essential.

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Camille Jamet

Music Streaming Consultant & Career Coach | 0 to +1 Million streams for my clients in 9 months | Helping artists and pros to elevate their career | Author of “Réussir son projet musical”
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The main benefit of practicing self-care is ensuring that musicians maintain their physical, mental, and emotional well-being amidst demanding routines. Self-care activities, like adequate sleep, healthy eating, exercise, and relaxation techniques, replenish energy and enhance resilience against stress. It also promotes mental clarity, creativity, and emotional balance, allowing musicians to perform at their best.

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4 Build a support network

As a musician, you may feel isolated, misunderstood, or unsupported by your family, friends, or society. That's why it's crucial to build a support network of people who understand and appreciate you and your work. This can include other musicians, mentors, peers, fans, or anyone who can offer you advice, feedback, encouragement, or comfort. You can also join online or offline communities, groups, or organizations that cater to musicians and their needs. By building a support network, you can reduce your stress and increase your sense of belonging.

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Camille Jamet

Music Streaming Consultant & Career Coach | 0 to +1 Million streams for my clients in 9 months | Helping artists and pros to elevate their career | Author of “Réussir son projet musical”
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A support network is very important because it provides emotional encouragement, advice, and practical assistance. Friends, family, colleagues, or mentors can offer perspective, share responsibilities, and help problem-solve, reducing feelings of isolation and overwhelm.

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5 Express yourself

One of the best ways to manage your stress is to express yourself through your music. Music can be a powerful outlet for your emotions, thoughts, and experiences. It can help you process your feelings, release your tension, and heal your wounds. It can also help you connect with your audience, share your message, and inspire others. By expressing yourself through your music, you can turn your stress into something positive and meaningful.

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Dawn Els

Music Composer
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Music is the most beautiful language. I can "speak" in it without any inhibitions. When I reached a crazy height of "cannot understand" how I create complex compositions at great speed without ever even having learned to compose music - I can hardly read it - a week long solitude with my Holy Creator brought me to a quiet where I could hear all the "voices" HE allowed me since I was a very small child. After that week early 2014, the flow was opened again and music was no scary thing to me no more. I could understand that I was allowed this tremendous gift. Many new pictures formed among the old memories and with a calm heart I restarted, using music then to speak all of my heart. At the time I worked on my 2nd Symphony of 11 movements.

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6 Celebrate your achievements

Finally, don't forget to celebrate your achievements as a musician. Whether it's finishing a song, releasing an album, performing a show, or getting a positive review, you deserve to acknowledge and appreciate your hard work and talent. Celebrating your achievements can boost your confidence, motivation, and happiness. It can also help you cope with the inevitable setbacks, challenges, and failures that come with being a musician. Celebrating your achievements can remind you why you love music and why you do what you do.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You’re a musician with a packed schedule. How can you manage your stress?

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1 Identify your stressors

2 Set healthy boundaries

3 Practice self-care

4 Build a support network

5 Express yourself

6 Celebrate your achievements

7 Here’s what else to consider

Music Industry

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