If you feel like you can’t take a break from music and creating new music is the only thing that makes you happy, you’re not alone.
Many musicians feel this way, thinking that the more they create, the more their skills will improve. But this isn’t always the case.
Taking a break from music creation is essential for your mental and physical health. Walking away from your music can be tough, but it can actually help improve your creativity.
Below, we’ve rounded up the top five signs you need a break from music creation.
4 Signs You Need a Break from Music Creation
1. There’s a Creative Block
Creative blockage for musicians manifests in a chronic inability to come up with new ideas and wrap up a song no matter how hard they try.
Overworking and burnout kill creativity and make it much more challenging to finish a track than it has to be. You may feel your brain refusing to engage with the creative process; all you get is old, boring ideas.
You can force yourself to produce something new and keep going, but it’ll only compromise your quality of work and take the fun out of the creative process.
Sometimes, the best way to get unstuck is to step away from your work, allow yourself to be exposed to new things, and come back to it later with fresh eyes.
2. You Don’t Feel Inspired By Your Work Anymore
If you no longer enjoy the music you’re making and dread getting to work every day, it might be time to take a break.
It’s important to stay passionate about your work and have something that feels rewarding to keep going. If that’s not the case anymore, a change of pace may exactly be what you need to get your groove back.
3. You’re Not Making Any Progress
Have you been working on the same project for weeks or months without any real progress?
Do you know exactly how a session will go each time you sit down to brainstorm or write?
Creative exploration can’t happen when you’re stuck in a rut. Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to take a step back and reassess your goals. This will help you gain some perspective and recharge emotionally and intellectually to get the best results.
4. Your Personal Life and Relationships Have Started to Suffer
When you constantly feel overwhelmed or stressed out by your work, your happiness and fulfillment likely suffer. And without living a meaningful life, you can’t create the best music.
If your relationships and personal life are suffering because of your work, it might be time to take a break and focus on something else. Inspiration is all around you – you just need to show up and pay attention.
Final Words
Music creation is no fun if you’re just going through the motions and not really enjoying the process. Music starting to feel like a chore is the biggest sign you need a break.
You could take a couple of days off each week or need a longer break to get back in the game. Regardless of your goals or the kind of music you make, remember to take a break from time to time to unleash your creativity and enjoy the music creation process.
Eric Dalius is The Executive Chairman of MuzicSwipe, a music and content discovery platform designed to maximize artist discovery and optimize fan relationships. Eric is also known for his weekly podcast “FULLSPEED,” where he converses with influential entrepreneurs from a range of industries. Additionally, he supports education through the “Eric Dalius Foundation,” which grants four scholarships to US students. Stay connected with Eric on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn,YouTube, Instagram, and Entrepreneur.com.
