Selfcare for musicians

Self-care tips from Daniela Flickentanz

08 March 2022

Disclaimer:

If you are in acute danger of losing your mental health, endangering yourself or others, please seek professional help. This article is not a substitute for talking to a professional. Below you will find a website with links to professionals and free emergency help throughout Austria.

Everything glitters

It is our job to create worlds in which our audience can immerse themselves, relax, even be inspired. And that is what we do, day after day, with shining eyes. Knowing that it is an incredible grace that we get to live our calling. We give our best, no matter what it looks like around and behind the stage. No matter if we get the payment we deserve or if we are just making music hand to mouth again. Our everyday life is colourful, everything glitters. Every day is different and we react flexibly - since two years even more than ever before. Many of us not only hold the job on stage, but manage ourselves. And then there are those who have a so-called "bread and butter" job and live in a permanent structural overload anyway.

In the process, it can quickly happen that we forget to take care of ourselves and look after ourselves. In the worst case, we burn ourselves out. That's why I would like to use this blog article to share my insights on the topic of self-care with you, to inspire you. And of course to remind myself again. What follows are my own experiences, impulse questions and my personal conclusion. This article is not a scientific study, but an experience report.

Daniela Flickentanz, singer and songwriter

Selfcare is not the 100th to-do

What can I do to take good care of myself?
How can I do that?

These are my personal guiding questions when it comes to dealing with myself in a healthy way. There are very concrete activities with which I support and strengthen myself in everyday life. These include: my morning pages, exercise sessions, making music (without immediately exploiting it), eating a freshly cooked meal in peace, drinking a café, having time alone with myself, enjoying media-free time and time in nature. But if all this becomes the 100th item on my to-do list and I only do it out of a sense of duty, it doesn't make too much sense. In my eyes, it is therefore important to develop an awareness of what I need, what does me good and then to really feel situationally: what do I need NOW and HOW does it do me best?

What do you do to take good care of yourself?
How do you do it?

Weekend

I regularly forget to schedule days off. Days when I have no appointments, don't want to do anything and can just let myself drift. What is commonly called "weekend". Yes, I often play there. That's why the time from Friday evening to Sunday evening is not free for me. But does it then mean just working through the whole week?

Sometimes I manage to plan my weeks well and schedule 1-2 days of "weekend". And when I'm in a particularly good mood, I manage to reserve not only a day off, but also a day for the unexpected. Those are usually really successful, productive and happy weeks.

How are you doing with it? When do you have your day off? With whom could you reflect on your time management? Who could you support with time management?

"Yes, I often play there. That's why the time from Friday evening to Sunday evening is not free for me. But then does it mean just working through the whole week?"

 

Not everything is rosy

"I am very sad to see how the situation is developing. I am glad you are there." I posted this in our IGFM - group today. I didn't realise it, but from the moment I shared my feelings and other people who are also affected revealed their views, I felt better. What does it mean to feel better? In that case, it doesn't mean that the sadness was gone. It was no longer suppressed, I could bear it, I can be with it. Because today I felt once again more: I am not alone.

Sometimes not everything is rosy. But you are not alone!

What feelings do you experience as a burden? With whom could you share them? Who could understand you? Who could you give understanding and a sympathetic ear to?

Selfcare is community care. Together we can do it. We give and take. That is what binds us together.

Going to sleep - a first aid

One of the most important singing lessons in my life was when the singing coach sent me home with the words: "Your body is tired. You can't support your voice like this and you can't practise. When can you next take a whole day off? This day will now be your sleeping day. You don't make any appointments. You don't set an alarm clock. You only get up to make yourself something to eat and to go to the toilet. The rest of the day you sleep. Your mobile phone and computer stay turned off."

I could hardly believe it, but this sleep day was a gamechanger. Of course, it doesn't replace a holiday and it doesn't make structural problems any smaller, but it helps me to recharge my batteries in between and to stay productive.

What is your first aid?

Self-care is a political act

Only those who are in their power can work for a better world. That's why I see self-care as a political act. So let's relax and save the world more often.

Professional help

There are moments when we can no longer help ourselves. That's when we need professional help. It is not a disgrace but a sign of greatness and self-confidence if we know and accept our own limits. When we avert the worst and ask for help:

Psychosocial services by federal state:
https://www.gesundheit.gv.at/service/beratungsstellen/psychosozialer-dienst

Austria-wide:
Crisis Intervention Centre
Tel. 01/4069595, Monday to Friday 10 am - 5 pm
Outpatient clinic for coping with acute psychosocial crises. Telephone, face-to-face, or email counselling.
Online at www.kriseninterventionszentrum.at.

Inspiration tip: TED Talk by Amanda Palmer https://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_palmer_the_art_of_asking