Self-Care in The Music Industry with WTF PR Founder Steph Maksimow
TW: Mental Illness
Not many people know this, but before going to school for Music Business and starting a career in PR, I got my Master's in Forensic Psychology and worked as a Clinical Therapist for several years. Talk about a change of pace….right?! Actually, wrong. The truth is that my experience in psychotherapy comes up quite a bit in the music industry.
Most of us suffer from some form of mental illness. Music and creativity stem from extreme emotion, it quells extreme emotion, and many of us struggle to find that balance when our greatest comfort becomes our work. I’ve worked with many artists who are depressed or suicidal, I’ve lost clients and friends to mental illness and/or drug abuse, and I am also diagnosed with severe mental illness. This is the reality we live in.
In this industry, self-care is extremely important for your mental wellness and it’s the first thing you should keep above all other things you value in your music career. As we enter these “gloomy” winter months – and are not fueled with the excitement of a new album or tour – it is more important than ever to take care of yourself. Here are some suggestions as to how:
Make Time For Yourself
Don’t allow yourself the excuse of “I don’t have the time.” Our lives can be chaotic, and things often change, so it’s important to bring structure and routine into your life. In shorter terms make time for yourself.
Try this exercise: Take a piece of paper (yes, real paper…not on your phone) and write down all the hours in the day from 12 AM on in 30-minute increments. Do this repeatedly for the next 5 days of your week. Then, shade in or block out the times that you usually sleep. Next, write down all the things that you have to do over those 5 days including meals, showers, work, appointments, practice, and any other tasks. Now, take a look at your schedule. Did you allow yourself at least 30 minutes 3 times daily for meals? Or 8 hours of sleep? Did you allow yourself at least 30 minutes to shower daily? Go to the gym? Journal or meditate? Are you balancing your day with self-care?
If the answer is no, take a look at what you wrote down and try again. Add your self-care tasks first and then fill in your other daily tasks. Do you have enough time in your days? Or do you need to change things? Start planning your days this way, and you will inevitably create a structured schedule with self-care at the forefront.
Journal It
OMG, SHE’S MAKING US USE PAPER AGAIN!!! Maybe, yeah.
There is substantial proof that writing or journaling with pen and paper is more therapeutic than writing through a computer, phone, or tablet. It has to do with the brain’s connection to your muscles and the active movement of writing…whatever; to each their own. I’m just here to make suggestions.
Journaling is an incredibly productive way to manage your self-care. Try to schedule an hour a day to journal - not write music or work - just journal. Write about your day. What did you do? Did you get any news? How did your activities make you feel? How do you feel now as you write about your day? Journaling should be your time to reflect on your day and process those emotions apart from everything else.
Maintain Professional Boundaries
This can be a tough one to get across in the music industry - mainly because our “coworkers” are also our friends. We work hard and play hard. We live in a world that is different from the corporate rules of personal boundaries and privacy, and sometimes the line between work and personal matters gets blurred.
Whether you are self-employed, work for an agency, or are part of a band; it’s important to treat yourself with the respect of any average worker for any other company. Set “work” hours in which you focus on your career and if anyone tries to talk business outside of these times, kindly redirect them with a time to talk later or send you the details so you can get back to them.
In the professional world, it’s inappropriate to text a coworker and demand an update at a concert or outside of a scheduled meeting or agreed-upon time. It’s inappropriate to text a coworker late at night, on weekends, or in the early mornings – and often, it’s inappropriate to “cold call” or ring without an appointment. These rules exist in the corporate world for the same reason they should exist in the music industry - to maintain a level of self-care by separating your work and personal life.
It would be best if you remembered that not only yourself, but others around you also lead personal lives, and you should always put yourself and your family first. You don’t need to explain yourself to anyone or make excuses for being unavailable outside of work. No job is ever worth the stress that breaking professional boundaries can cause in the long run.
Turn Off
Turn it all off. Put Do Not Disturb on your phone for at least 1 hour each day. Drive your car and listen to a podcast, take a walk, or go to the gym. Try to do something active that does not include being on or near a cell phone, as it’s best to eliminate distractions.
Take it from someone with pretty serious ADD…I absolutely can NOT shut my thoughts down or sit still for an hour, especially if someone texts or calls me unexpectedly. I’ve even been known to pick up my phone and text someone back in the middle of a yoga class….don’t do that. Give yourself a FULL hour of uninterrupted time without being attached to wireless communication. Just turn it off for a bit.
Don’t Compare Yourself To Others
This one is tough for all of us because we all feel a step or two away from stardom – we see bands that we are close with blow up, we work alongside successful artists and producers, we see friends go viral, and we’re all trying to “crack” the formula that breaks our career – that’s the music industry! Don’t let it get you down. Everyone is different, and every person’s experience has many layers of influence and circumstances to get them to where they are.
Self-reflection is a great way to battle that instinct to compare yourself to others. Instead of looking at another artist or music industry professional and copying what they did hoping for their level of success, take time out of your day (omg there’s that word “TIME” again!) to reflect on your career and think of what you need to achieve your goals (marketing, production, networking, etc.), and what roadblocks you are facing to getting there (lack of money, location, lack of influential network, etc.).
Here are Whoa That’s Fresh Publicity and Marketing, the wellness of our clients and team is of utmost importance.
If you’re like to chat more about how we can help with your upcoming release, event, or announcement, please send me an email and we can discuss possibilities and ideas!
