Breaks are something that we all need. As musicians, we can often feel guilty about taking them. But hear me when I say this, breaks are productive.
How do we get on track after a break? Let’s talk about it. Here are 3 things to remember when coming back to your instrument.
1. Starting off slow
When I had to take a long break after I got my wisdom teeth out, I could not push myself. The first few days that I practiced were really slow and not technically difficult at all.
Basically, even if your break isn’t from something medical, don’t go straight into the deep end. Start to slowly reacquaint yourself when you are coming back after a break. You’re just reacquainting yourself with the instrument.
2. Celebrating yourself
Coming back after a break is a real accomplishment and that is worth celebrating. Even if it feels small to you, it is a huge step to getting back to playing.
The first time I ever heard the idea of “celebrating yourself,” I was really confused as to how. And if, when people tell you to celebrate you and you also feel confused as to how, the Standing Ovation Series is for you. This is a three-day series built to get you celebrating your hard work without worrying how to celebrate. Every day for three days, you get an email commending you for all your hard work and encouraging you for the next day of practice.
I dare you to take this step and invest in yourself today. Sign up for the series!
What people are saying about this series:
3. You are not behind-not feeling guilty
It is so easy to feeling you are behind after coming back from a break. The guilt of resting can slowly creep in. But the important things is: resting is productive. If we don’t take breaks, that can lead to burnout and injury. So taking time and investing in your rest is an investment in your instrument as well.
This is a mindset shift that can be quite hard, but I challenge you to re frame rest in a positive way.
A break is so important and I hope you have fun rediscovering the joy of your music!
All my best,
Eleanor
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