It's Okay to Have an 'Off' Practice Day

 Hi everyone,

In this post I'm going to talk about having an 'off' practice day, as it does happen. It's also okay to have an 'off' practice day.

We all have days were we aren't feeling ourselves, and the same goes for learning a musical instrument. It's okay to take a step back and not touch your musical instrument for a day or two.

I'm going to talk about ways that you can use to try and overcome an 'off' practice day. These won't always work, as everyone deals with things differently.

Analyse How You are Feeling

Before you even get your instrument out of it's case just ask yourself 'Do I feel up to practicing today?' or 'Can I try and practice with how I'm feeling?'

If you don't feel up to it on that day then it's completely fine, and it's completely 'normal'. This could be due to you not feeling well or that your brain could do with a days rest, as it hasn't quite settled down from your previous days practice; especially if you were doing an intense practice session.

Smaller Practice Session

If you do feel up to practice session then just aim to do 30 minutes, and then see how get on. If you are feeling up to do it, and if you want to do more practice aim to do another 30 minute practice session. Please don't force yourself to aim for the second 30 minutes if you're not up to it. Also, take a break in between each practice session to give your brain a rest.

Just Do the Basics

During your practice sessions just try and focus on the basics on what you need to do. This can be just running through your scales and arpeggios, development exercises, an easy study or just focusing on your exam pieces. Or you might just want to play a couple of fun and easy pieces of music instead of working through any exam material. 

Don't Rush Your Practice

Please don't rush through your practice, especially if your not feeling great. Take your time, as by slowing things down a little bit you will be analyse how you a feeling; and if it starts getting too much you can always put your instrument away.

Create a Relaxing Atmosphere

By creating a relaxing atmosphere whilst you are practicing it might help you to focus a little better. You can do this by using a wax melter and burn one of your favourite scents to help calm you or an electric oil diffuser. Or maybe burn an incense stick/ cone (if your practice space is large enough). 

Take a Day Off

If you really don't feel practicing then just have a day off from practicing, as it could be what you and your body needs at the time. By giving yourself a day off from practicing you can do something else that you enjoy doing such as reading a book, going for a walk and seeing friends and family. Just do something that you enjoy doing to help refocus your brain, and when you come back to practicing your instrument you should in theory feel much better just for taking a day off.

Having an 'Off' Day

 Hi everyone,

In this post I'm going to talk about having an 'off' day in general, as it happens to all of us at some point. This could be due to just generally not feeling yourself, or you could be under the weather. It could also be that you could just do with a break away from things.

It's Okay to Have an 'Off' Day

We all experience having an 'off' day, and it's okay to have an 'off' day. These could be due to a number of reasons such as your general health, mental health or just waking up and feeling rubbish. 

Take Time Out from Doing Your Usual Routine

Try and tackle your 'off' day by doing something enjoyable, but do something that you wouldn't usually have time to do. This could be reading a book, going for walk, having a go at a new arts and crafts activity, go and explore outside your local area, easy exercises or yoga. You can also just have a nice and easy chill day to see if that might help.

Explore a New Music Genre

Listen to a genre of music that you're not familiar with or go an explore a composer that isn't familiar to you. You might not take to it straight away, but you might appreciate it later on. But, if you are musical and you enjoy listening to or learning a musical instrument it may come in handy somewhere down the line. Everyone has different music preferences, but its always nice to occasionally to go out and explore around those musical preferences.

Read a Book

If you enjoy reading and you haven't read for a while then take out a book that you have enjoyed reading in the past, and start reading it again. Or, you could always treat yourself to a new book from an author that you have never read anything from.

Make Your Favourite Beverage

If you fancy settling down with a book you might want to make your favourite non alcoholic beverage to go with it. This could be a making a latte using your coffee machine, a flavoured hot chocolate, a new flavour tea or just a good old 'English Breakfast' tea. Whatever is taking your fancy, and you have got the stuff in to make the beverage. Just make it, as it might make you feel a lot better.

Going for a Walk

This one might do you a world of good, as its getting you out of the house for a little bit. If you do decide to go for a walk, you may decide to do a local walking trail or go and visit a local park. Also, you may want to go just slightly out of your local area. If you do decide to go slightly outside your local area please make sure that you are familiar with the area that you are going, and that you are familiar with the safest routes to get back home safely. Also, make sure that you are prepared for your walk by taking a bottle or two of water and something to eat. Make sure that you are prepared with the correct clothes for that season. 

If you are having an 'off' day just remember that it's okay to have an 'off' day. Take time out for yourself to help you to back to your usual self. If you are having an 'off' day and you put yourself first, please remember that you aren't being selfish towards other people; but you are doing something for you to get yourself out of this 'rut' that you're in. There's nothing wrong with putting yourself and your overall wellbeing first, as you know your own body and mind.