Rejuvenation, the key for a long-lasting and fulfilling music career

Creative endeavours are, at the same time, energising and draining. Gigging musicians thrive on stage, but once they get off, they are hit with the exhaustion of having given their all to their audience, their clients and their craft. If, on top of performing, they are in charge of logistics, finances and/or organisation, as it was the case for the women who put together the Time For My Music's evening showcase last October, this fatigue gets dialled up to eleven.

If you plan to become a professional gigging musician, it's essential that you come up with mechanisms to rejuvenate after shows. There's only so much your body and mind can endure with no support, and if you force yourself to move forward despite signs of alarm like pain, sleep issues, and anxiety, you're going to burn out.

On one hand, there's the physical side of things: take care of your health and cultivate your endurance with an appropriate diet, physical activity and good sleep. Allot time specifically to rest, both after every performance and by taking time off during the year. An unwinding routine once you get off the stage can include a hearty meal, stretching and/or breathing exercises, a fixed amount of quiet time to settle your mind, etc. Your time off can be used travelling, delving in creative activities that don't involve performing, or even catching up with house chores and renovations. Always that it takes your mind out of the performing/giving mindset, whatever works.

This takes us to the other side of the coin, the mental part of rejuvenation. Performing is giving, and you aren't an endless source of energy that can give and give forever. You have to receive in order to recharge. Compliments and signs of care by other people, quality time that they offer you with their presence, advice, even physical gifts. Don't dismiss these things. Don't say, "you shouldn't have bothered" or "it's not a big deal". Enjoy the attention, you deserve it! And have a moment to consciously receive the beauty of the world, the simple things that make you happy.

Keeping yourself fit and refreshed like this will allow you to have a long-lasting —and more importantly, enjoyable and fulfilling— music career : )