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Friday, October 3, 2014

5 Ways to Eliminate Stress




We all know how hectic things can get here at Berklee.

One minute you're rushing to class, wondering if that melody you wrote for your harmony homework is really lydian.

Next, you're off to a rehearsal with one band, but you have to leave a few minutes early, because you have a gig to get to afterwards with another.

You're finally in bed around 5 in the morning, but you don't fall asleep before setting your alarm for 8 - so that you can make it into work by 9am.

And that's just Mondays.

We are fortunate to be at a school that fosters an environment in which people have an incredible work ethic, incredible drive, incredible passion, incredible determination and persistence. Sometimes as artists we are willing to sacrifice our well-being for the sake of our work. We let our own passion get the best of us because somehow, along the way, we have equated the success of our art to our self-worth.

Obviously, this mentality can become self-destructive very quickly.

If we fail to take care of our physical bodies, the other parts of us will suffer as a result as well.

Remember to incorporate relaxation into your schedule. I'm not talking about procrastination or binge-watching your favorite show on Netflix or Hulu.

Real relaxation that helps nourish your brain and your body, so that you can truly recharge and infuse this new energy into your music and art.

By taking a few minutes out of your day to eliminate any current stress, you help your body and mind release any residual stress later throughout the day.

1. Go for a walk or run.

You know how it goes. You've been sitting in the film scoring labs for five hours and DP just decided to crash and lose that entire brass section you've been working on. Yup. That happened. Instead of thrashing the workstation, just walk it off. Leave your things, and go outside and run a whole lap around the building. Do two or three. Run to the Christian Science Center lawn and back. The point is to change your state from being frustrated to being liberated! Occupy your mind with some good old sweatin'.

2. Call a friend and ask about their day.

It's easy to think we're up against the world when we're consumed by our minds and let ourselves get overwhelmed by all we need to get done. When you reach out to someone else, you'll gain a bit of perspective and realize that everyone is in the same boat. EVERYONE has bad days. Everyone has obstacles to overcome. When we can appreciate that, we'll see our molehills for what they really are.

3. Write down 5 things to be grateful for.

Gratitude is one of those mental states that has been proven to help heal our physical bodies from the inside-out. You may have been constantly reminded to count your blessings growing up, but taking the time to really be thankful for the great things in your life (big and small) opens your eyes. If you draw a blank, start small. Simply being thankful you have access to clean water is enough to get the juices flowing.

4. Have a mini-dance party.

Sometimes the best thing to do is just crank up the stereo (without damaging your ears, of course) and just shake it off. Literally. Shake off the junk and shake off the stress. You're awesome and you've got the moves to prove it! Bey would be so proud.

5. Take it one day at a time. 

The number one thing to remember is that everything part of this ride we call Life is essential to our experience. Accept the painful parts as if you had chosen them yourself, and then your struggles can become useful to you. Breathe in the good, and out the bad. You're only human and can only be spread so thin. Be kind to yourself and remember to take each thing one by one, one day at a time.

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