It is four o’clock in the evening and you have not practiced yet. You stare at the clock and feel a wash of guilt run over you. How in the world could you let this happen?
But you have absolutely no desire to practice, or maybe you feel stress about practice. So the time slides on and later in the evening, you still haven’t touched your instrument.
Well, you are not alone and you’re in the right place, my friend, because we’re gonna dive in to actual steps to beat the drag of struggling with motivation and actually practice, AND also be excited about practicing.
Understanding why you are struggling with motivation
If you are procrastinating your practice, then usually that’s because there’s a feeling around that practice that you don’t like. Whether it’s stress or worry or discomfort.
Remember, procrastination is not laziness, it is the avoidance of a feeling that a task creates. So what is that feeling for you? Is it discomfort, is it worry, is it stress? What are these feelings? Knowing why you feel this way can be so helpful as well.
You know how when kids ask you a question, and then they follow up with a bunch of “why?” It can be so annoying. But actually doing this with yourself can help you get to the root of why you aren’t motivated.
For instance: “I don’t want to practice.” “Why?” “Because I feel stressed.” “Why?” “Because I am struggling with [—-]” “Why?” “Because…”
The more you ask why, the more you can dive into the reason you are feeling this way. And just naming it can be so helpful in working through it.
The 10 minute trick
You might have already heard this because I know I’m not the first to talk about it, but it is so helpful. Say to yourself that you’re going to practice for 10 minutes. Just 10 minutes. And afterwards, you can finish. Just 10 minutes!
The trick is that usually after practicing for 10 minutes, the hardest part is over — starting. And it is easier to continue practicing for longer. After 10 minutes, you might find yourself saying “actually, I’ll do 10 more minutes.”
Analysing your practice schedule
If you have too much on your plate, you might be feeling overwhelmed — which can lead to procrastination.
Making realistic expectations of yourself can really help with that motivation. If you’re feeling stuck in a rut and you don’t feel motivated to practice, then having a huge plan with a bunch of goals can really overwhelming. So start small and work your way up — you got this!
We actually dive more into this in the blog post titled: Human First, Musician Second: How To Set Boundaries and Take Care of Your Mental Health as a Musician. In this episode, we dive right into listening to your body and creating a plan so that you have enough time to rest and so that you are excited and rejuvenated once you get back into the practice room. So if that’s something that sounds like you know it could be helpful, give it a listen!
Remembering your “why” with reminders
In my room, I have tons of sticky notes with goals that excite me. Every morning when I wake up, I am reminded of the things I have set for myself. This way I can stay focused and excited.
So what can you remind yourself? Maybe it’s an exciting concert or a question that makes you ponder something. Or a quote that inspires you. Put it where you can see it!
Get inspired by other people
There is nothing like being inspired. Every time I go to orchestra rehearsal I feel inspired. Just watching other people perform and practice can be so helpful!
Now you might be saying to me, “how do I do that?” Maybe you’re just not sure how you can get inspired by other people. And to that I say “I got your back,” because the Spring Roundup has just been launched and it is full of musical motivation for you. This roundup of inspiration is designed to get you excited practice, because let’s be honest, we all need this!
All my best,
Eleanor
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