Now that the holiday season is over and the new year as come and gone, I find myself reflecting on this season, not only as a person who celebrates Christmas – sometimes to excess, but also as a musician.
Holidays for anyone can be a time of joy, light, music, fun and hilarity. Or they can be stressful, filled with emotional memories and loneliness.
Musicians are no exception but I feel like we have it a little more stressful than most. Along with having to decorate for the holidays, find gifts for loved ones, create great memories with our kids and families, listen to incessant holiday theme music on the radio and in stores everywhere, we also have the added stress of school winter break, student cancellations/reschedules, holiday rehearsals and performances on all of the “eves.” Don’t get me wrong, I love doing these things and I will continue to do them for years to come but without some sort of game plan you could be headed for an extremely stressful, busy and hectic holiday season that can leave you feeling crazy and looking a bit crazed.
So I thought I would bring to you a couple of tips that I use to keep myself grounded in the holiday hubbub. These are just my ways of coping with the extra events and stress.
1) Know your schedule
This one seems obvious but know your schedule. Know what your work schedule is like for the holiday season. Do you have extra lessons, shifts, or schedule changes? What does your family usually do during the holiday season that needs to be scheduled in advance? (Cutting down a tree? Caroling on Christmas Eve? Going to see Christmas lights? Family reunions or get-togethers? etc. ) What are your rehearsals and performances for the holiday season and could there potentially be more unplanned or unexpected last minute gigs?
2) Now that you know your schedule, write it down and keep it with you. AT. ALL. TIMES.
If I don’t keep a planner of all of my various plans and schedules I get confused, start double booking things, and make bad impressions on potential contractors, students and employers.
Writing it down, not only helps to remind you what you need to keep track of but it accesses the memory center in your brain and helps you remember what you have to do. This is exactly why my professors in college, specifically Dr. Diane Baxter – my mentor, would suggest that we take notes by hand, even if we had a laptop handy.
The brain is programmed to retain more information when you write with pen and paper than if you type it out on a keyboard. Although typing is a lot faster for most people (especially me because, lets me honest, my hands can’t keep up with my brain), using an old fashioned pen and paper accesses the part of the brain that learns kinetically, AKA learning through through doing or by touch. By keeping your schedule in a planner, bullet journal, or paper of some sort you are 1) making it visual by writing it down 2) using the part of your brain that learns kinetically by physically writing it down and 3) likely using the part of your brain that learns aurally because you’re most likely talking about that particular appointment or gig. Using all of these types of learning (visual, aural, kinetic) to remember your schedule in a time that is stressful, hectic, and crazy is essential to remembering your appointments and keeping up with your responsibilities.
If you want to check out my YouTube channel, The Nerdy Cat Mom, you’ll find that I’ve started a new series called Happy Planner Plan with Me. Every week I’ll film a video where I plan out the next week including lessons, rehearsals, appointments, and other random to do’s. I use lots of stickers and try to make it functional but nerdy and cute!
3. Schedule time for yourself
Now that you know your schedule and have it written down in your trusty planner, bullet journal, or calendar you need to schedule time for yourself.
That’s right. You heard me. Schedule time. FOR. YOU.
There is no way you can possibly keep up with all that you have going on it you don’t keep yourself refueled. The old adage of “you can’t pour from an empty cup” is so true. In order to give of yourself in this crazy, wonderful, and joyous holiday season, you need to have something to give. So schedule time for yourself.
What could that mean for you?
schedule a massage
get a mani/pedi
schedule some time to sit and read a book
take a scenic drive
go to an event that you want to attend, with no strings attached to mingle or network
Netflix and chill
play a game
take a nap
have a spa night – face masks/foot soak/bubble bath
Really the sky is the limit here. But schedule in some me time. Fill your cup first, so that you can give of yourself fully.
4. Enjoy yourself
My last tip is to enjoy yourself. The holidays are magical, filled with special events, family coming to town, holiday performances, and making memories with the ones we love. Enjoy this time of year. The time when we go all out on spoiling each other, seeing friends that we haven’t seen in a while, and eating food that we deem too rich or fattening to be a year round affair.
Sometimes the holidays can be hard. Loss of a loved one around the holiday season is especially difficult. So if it’s hard to enjoy yourself, just be kind to yourself.
That being said, if you are finding yourself dreading the holiday season because of the musical commitments you made and you aren’t enjoying yourself, then maybe it’s time to rethink your holiday commitments. I have always told myself that if I don’t enjoy something then I would stop doing it. I have left groups behind, let go of a couple of students, and stopped doing hobbies that I once loved because I didn’t love them anymore.
So have fun with the holidays! Christmas music, at least for me, is so much fun to play. I will never get tired of playing Sleigh Ride and The Nutcracker. I enjoy it, so I keep doing it!
I hope that you all had a fantastic holiday season. I know that I enjoyed the rehearsals and performances I participated in as well as the Christmas music that my students brought me to learn. I love this time of year and sometimes I have to remind myself, that although it’s a stressful time it only lasts a short time.
As always, aim high and keep practicing!
Sara
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