5 Tips to Prevent Burnout for Musicians

Let's make this clear right from the start: if we want to get anywhere as musicians, there's a lot of work involved. Of course, we pursue music because it's fun and fulfilling, but the many small steps that lead in the right direction aren't always fun. Whether it's practising an instrument, arranging gigs, writing various PR emails, moving equipment to and from the rehearsal room or endlessly listening to mixes before a single release, it often takes gritting our teeth and just getting on with it, putting in a lot of time and effort usually on top of many other responsibilities at work and with family. No wonder it's easy to come close to what's called burnout. Today, let's take a look at a few tips on how to maintain your enthusiasm and joy for music in the long run.

1. Do things just for fun

If you have a band and a lot of plans, you know that you need to always "keep going" and it's easy to end up investing all of your free time in a band project. And of course, all your musical time. You rehearse complex parts, meet for rehearsals, write songs, record demos... There's always something to do.

From time to time, try to make room for a musical mini-project "just for fun", without any expectations and simply because you feel like it. You can record a cover of a song that resonates with you. Try a collaboration with a musician other than your band. Write a song that you know for a fact is not right for the band. Or learn a new song or riff from your favourite band.

There are plenty of options; what matters is keeping it light. Find any counterpart to "bandwork", something you want to do simply because you feel like it, and it serves no other purpose. You might rediscover the joy and freedom that music is actually about, and then you'll find the work easier to do too.

2. Try a new musical instrument

Few things are as fun and refreshing as trying a new musical instrument. Without any great expectations, just because. Have you been playing guitar all your life? Try taking up the drums! Keyboards? Or borrow an instrument that's not at all related to the style of music you normally play, but for some reason appeals to you.

I had an accordion borrowed from a friend for several years, and even though it's a crazy instrument where you can't see what your left hand is doing, and if you think you just need to know a little piano, you'll quickly find out that it's not enough, I had an incredible amount of fun messing around with it and enjoying the beautiful multi-coloured sounds. It's also tremendous fun to sit behind the drums whenever our drummer doesn't show up for rehearsal. Of course, my playing is absolutely awful –suddenly I have a completely different number of limbs than usual, but the joy is palpable. In my opinion, it's one of the proven recipes for making music fun again.

3. Leave your guitar at home on holiday

You're going on holiday with your family, the car is bursting at the seams, but you cram the guitar in at the last minute anyway. You won't see anything in the rear-view mirror for 1500 km, but what if you get struck by the muse somewhere on the beach? After all, it feels weird to leave it at home. Sounds familiar?

I literally ran out of the car a few times to get my guitar. Then I bought a ukulele for that purpose, so I could see something in the rearview mirror. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) it turned out that not all family members associate the specific tuning and slightly annoying sound of a ukulele with the ideal vacation, so next time I travelled without a single musical instrument! As you can probably guess, nothing happened at all. What's more, it was great. Because sometimes we need a break even from the things we love. In this case, music. You'll probably run into it somewhere along the way anyway, and it's usually a nice and unexpected encounter.

4. There are other ways

When we feel overwhelmed by music, it helps to realise that there are other art forms. Often, we dedicate most of our creativity to music, and when we're not playing, we're at least listening to it. It is refreshing to try a new musical instrument, but it is also extremely liberating to point your creativity in a different direction for a while.

It is not for nothing that a lot of famous musicians also paint pictures, make films, write books or even make pottery, as I recently read about Nick Cave. They are very important activities and it doesn't matter if you are good at them or if you are a complete amateur. What is important is to rediscover your creative passion and a certain awe at what is emerging under your hands. Your main mission is music, so you can afford to mix colours on the canvas for a while without any pressure or expectations. Likewise, don't be afraid to go to an exhibition, see a good film or read a collection of poems. It might end up enriching your music-making more than those extra few sweaty hours of practice.

5. Hit the road

If you're fed up with everything and feel a warning light flashing in the back of your head indicating you're running low on fuel, here's my tried and tested recipe. Just get out for a while. Twenty-four hours can be enough. With a little planning, family, work and the band can usually give you some time off. Hit the road, preferably by train, if possible to see your favourite band in concert. A jam session with friends from another town also counts. After all, even a fairly mundane trip to a city you've never been to before counts. Go alone or with a good friend, depending on your mood. But this time, leave your family, bandmates and work colleagues at home. Take a notebook, a good book and headphones for the trip. You may not even need the book.

Unless I had experienced it several times, I wouldn't believe how much can happen in one or two days and how much such a relatively short expedition can help you get into gear. Having a few hours on the train to yourself, you can look back on your musical endeavours, listen to your favourite music in peace (which suddenly sounds completely different), or you might not have to do anything at all. The freedom is palpable. Plus, if you're in for a great concert experience at the end of your ride, I can guarantee your batteries will be 100% charged.

What is your recipe against musical burnout? Let us know on Facebook!