There comes a point in the journey of a musician when it's not just about playing with an instrument and learning, there is a lot of trial and error, boring parts, persistence, necessary rest and a few more battles which sometimes can take a toll on creativity and the natural flow of composition and music making. This burn-out can come in many forms but the most...
Read More
I hate to admit this, but the truth is that sometimes I fall into a slump when it comes to running my studio.
Dealing with the same administrative tasks, working with the same students, and running into the same issues from week to week can leave me a little drained from time to time, no matter how much I absolutely love what I do (and I really do!).
I have a network of colleagues and friends who run their own businesses as well, so I know that I’m not the only one who struggles with burnout occasionally. When I feel it coming on, I know exactly how to nip it in the bud before it takes over.
When I mentioned to my husband that this month’s blog would be about balance, he laughed and suggested that I first start to make some changes, and then write and article in six months to share how I achieved a more balanced lifestyle. I have to admit that he is right. I have not done well with balance over the last two months. Most of us start the year with high expectations, good intentions, high energy and a long list of goals. That was how I began September – full of energy, many students, a waiting list, and lots of projects. By the second week of lessons, I had already suffered from illness due to stress. I was out of balance – I had fallen off the beam.
Instead of sharing my own ideas, I will summarize a session from the 2011 Music Teachers National Conference in Milwaukee entitled “A life in balance.” This was one of the last sessions presented at the conference and even though I was there, I was not able to attend so I purchased the MP3 DVD and listened to it. Meg Gray, a professor of music at Lincoln University of Missouri, and Ellen McQuie, family medicine physician, gave an insightful and helpful session in which they concentrated on the following five different areas to assist in creating a balanced lifestyle.