As a long-time unbiased musician, I understand how laborious this life might be on one’s psychological well being. I’ve taken a break earlier than. I’ve felt like I ought to simply stop. Issues can get darkish if you happen to’re not cautious. So I need to speak about care on your psychological well being as an indie musician.
The Pressures of Being an Indie Artist
As an indie musician, you do all of it. Possibly you’ve a small workforce, however most of us are out right here doing all of it on our personal. Regardless, listed below are the largest issues I see indie artists fighting repeatedly…
Comparability
Have you ever ever gone down the rabbit gap of comparability on Spotify? You land on an artist’s Spotify web page and instantly take a look at their month-to-month listenership and stream counts. And then you definitely evaluate that to your Spotify stats, realizing you’re nowhere close to their degree of “success.”
This can be a prime instance of the comparability entice, however there are such a lot of possibilities for indie artists to match themselves to others. You begin beating your self up since you’re not as “good” as one other artist. And that’s once you start digging your individual grave.
Perfectionism
Perfectionism freezes so many aspiring artists. They assume every thing they make must be completely good. However you’ll by no means attain good. As a result of once you lastly get to the place you beforehand thought good was, it has moved additional down the road. Your style has gotten higher, so the bar for good has moved.
I’m not saying you need to accept okay. Do your greatest. Attempt to take advantage of significant music you may. But in addition acknowledge that you can endlessly tweak a tune. As an alternative, give attention to what strikes you. If a tune makes you’re feeling one thing, put it out.
Monetary stress
In case you work a soft day job or profession place and also you make music at evening and on the weekends, you don’t really feel the monetary stress of being a working musician. And that’s completely advantageous. No person desires monetary stress.
However if you happen to’re giving a music profession a correct go, you in all probability really feel a little bit of stress round cash. Being a full-time musician is a hustle. You’re doing no matter you may to earn a living together with your musical abilities. And for a lot of working musicians, cash is tight.
Balancing creativity and enterprise
As an indie musician, you’re operating a enterprise. However you’re additionally the artistic pressure behind the enterprise. So it may be difficult to play each of these roles and nonetheless really feel such as you’re staying genuine.
You’ll have to learn to compartmentalize. Artwork over right here, enterprise over there.
Unclear objectives
Nothing looks like flailing within the ocean than not realizing the place you’re going. If you recognize you need to be a full-time musician however you’re undecided precisely what that appears like, that’s stress-inducing.
Sensible Steps To Take care of Your Psychological Well being
Okay, now that we’ve talked about the primary stressors and depressors for indie musicians, let’s speak about options. As a result of whether or not or not you make a profession in music, it’s important to prioritize your psychological well being. Listed below are some methods to deal with the strain of being a musician…
Set practical objectives
Discover your supreme profession, particularly what it entails. Then determine what objectives would get you there. Then break down these objectives into issues you are able to do at present. This fashion, you are able to do one small factor every day and know you’re making progress. However you’re much less prone to really feel overwhelmed.
Be practical about what you may accomplish
Be practical about what you may accomplish in a day. It’s okay if issues take longer than anticipated or if it’s good to alter your plans. However you don’t need to overdo it or overwhelm your self.
Have a good time your wins
Each time one thing good occurs, I write it down. So I’ve a listing of accomplishments for the previous few years of my music profession. Each time I really feel discouraged, I skim by this listing to remind myself of how far I’ve come. You want some model of this. Have a good time and monitor your wins. (You should utilize my free worksheet to do that).
Steadiness work and relaxation
I can’t emphasize sufficient the significance of a calendar. It helps you recognize when you’ve time to do music and when to relaxation. It helps you separate the totally different elements of your life, together with creating music and doing the enterprise facet of music. You’re not lazy if it’s good to relaxation after working.
Join with others
Group retains you afloat and may even allow you to thrive. As an introverted recluse, even I acknowledge the need of neighborhood for psychological well being. So go to open mics and meet folks. Discover a songwriter’s circle. Hit up a neighborhood musician doing what you’re doing and provide to purchase them a espresso. Get linked.
Keep bodily lively
A stroll across the block each day can do wonders on your psychological well being. It’s easy and silly and annoying. But it surely helps.
Monetary planning
Create a sensible finances and monetary plan on your music profession. Observe how a lot you make from music every month, then don’t spend greater than that on music stuff. It will allow you to keep afloat and even save up for that new piece of substances.
Study to say no
Derek Sivers (CD Child founder and writer) says if one thing isn’t a “hell sure” then it’s a “no.” This mind-set helps you focus extra in your sure’s. Once you’re selective in regards to the alternatives and initiatives you tackle, you may give the vital stuff extra of your artistic vitality.
Skilled assist
I believe everybody ought to attempt remedy not less than as soon as. A educated therapist may give you coping methods and a non-judgmental house to debate your emotions. The purpose is to be taught instruments that can assist you cope by yourself.
Psychological Well being Assets for Musicians
Clearly, I’m not a psychological well being skilled. I’m only a fellow indie musician passing alongside what I do know from analysis. So I need to level you within the path of some organizations and packages that provide sensible assist for these fighting their psychological well being.
MusiCares
MusiCares, run by the Recording Academy, provides a bunch of well being and human companies to the music neighborhood. This contains psychological well being companies, monetary help, and habit restoration sources.
Backline
Backline is a non-profit group that gives psychological well being and wellness assist to music trade professionals. They provide a helpline, remedy grants, and wellness packages.
Assist Musicians UK (United Kingdom)
Assist Musicians UK offers a spread of assist companies, together with a 24/7 helpline, monetary help, and psychological well being sources particularly designed for musicians within the UK.
The SIMS Basis (Austin, Texas)
The SIMS Basis provides psychological well being and substance use restoration companies to musicians, music trade professionals and their households within the Austin, Texas space. I personally benefitted vastly from this group after I lived there.
CrewCare (Australia)
CrewCare is an Australian group that provides psychological well being assist for music trade professionals, together with roadies, crew members, and technicians.