Six Things Artist Can Do To Improve their mental health.

We live in a world that used to offer very few opportunities for artists. I personally believe this is literally the best time in all of history to be an artist. That being said, the music/entertainment/art industry can be  ruthless. To survive in those businesses, you need to be more than just talented;  and you have to love what you’re doing. Truthfully most of us creatives have some pain in our past that helped us to become creatives but if untreated or unresolved often times ends up hurting us more as we age.

 There are some steps artists can take to maintain good mental health.

1) Take care of your body

Physical health is essential for artists’ mental health. If you are feeling physically ill, then your concentration and motivation will be affected. So make sure that you get enough sleep and exercise regularly.

2) Maintain an open mind

Relaxing is important for an artist’s mental health. However, relaxing does not mean you should stop working on your musical skills and stop learning new things about yourself and the world around you. It’s still important that you keep developing your skills and try to discover new things about yourself and the world around you as often as possible.

3) Stay connected with people

One of the most common symptoms of mental illness is social isolation. When people withdraw from others socially, they tend to experience negative emotions more frequently and are more likely to develop a mood disorder like depression or anxiety . Connecting with people cokan help you stay emotionally healthy even when times are tough in the music industry.

4) Develop emotional awareness

Being able to accept criticism and responsibility. Being able to move on after making a mistake. Being able to say no when you need to. Being able to share your feelings with others.

When I was a teenager, I thought the only way to be a “real” artist was to suffer. Being an artist meant you were isolated, poor, and mentally ill. I thought that being depressed and having anxiety were all part of the job and that my mental health issues were just a part of who I was as an artist.

But as I got older, I realized that wasn’t true. While mental illness can certainly affect artists in every field, it doesn’t have to be a part of your life as an artist — and it definitely shouldn’t be romanticized. Being an artist isn’t about suffering for your art; it’s about creating work that you love and helping others connect to their own emotions through your work. This next one I struggle with because I didn’t start painting till I was over 40 and always felt like I had wasted time in my youth so now I have to catch up. 

5. Take time off

In a world where there is so much pressure to constantly give your fans something new, it can be tempting to work through your mental health struggles in order to meet deadlines. However, this is not good for your health or your art. Taking time off is not a sign of weakness – it shows that you care about yourself and want to keep going for longer.

6. Talk about it.

Talking about mental health issues can be difficult. The taboo of mental illness, especially in the music industry, can make it hard to open up, especially when we’re talking about depression, anxiety or other common diagnoses. But talking about it is essential to improving your mental health. It’s easy to feel alone in your challenges, but the truth is that many people are struggling with mental illness and addiction. And the more we talk about it, the less alone we feel.

. Please reach out if you are struggling.  No man is an island.