April 22, 2025 • 18 mins
Today we are comparing two different breaks that I took recently. One was overwhelming and didn't let me rest at all, and the other was more balanced.
This episode is available as a blog post. Click here to read.
Use code ELEANOR15 for 15% off your Notabl_ practice journal, and level up your focus in your sessions! Click here for your journal.
I never recommend anything that I don't love. This contains an affiliate code which means that I receive a commission -- with no extra cost to you! 😊
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to the Confident Musicianing
Podcast.
My name is Eleanor and I am aBritish American oboist studying
at the Royal Conservatoire ofScotland literally my dream
school and it took me a long wayto get there.
I applied and auditioned for 12schools in three different
countries.
It was a lot of hard work but,oh my gosh, so worth it.
(00:24):
I want you to have theconfidence to work hard in
achieving your goals, so comewith me as we go on this journey
together.
So sit down, pull up a chair,take a seat or, if you're on the
go, welcome to the ConfidentMusicianing Podcast.
(00:50):
Something that is very different, something that is new to me as
a uni student, especially whenin Europe, is that the breaks
here from the academic year aremuch longer and more frequent
than what I've been used to.
When I was a high schoolstudent in the States they were
much shorter and not not asoften, whereas now they're
longer and more frequent.
And naturally, as someone who'snot necessarily used to that, I
(01:12):
have had to figure out what Ido during those breaks and I'm a
musician so I practice.
But recently I've had twodifferent breaks one at the
beginning of the year and onejust recently and they have been
very different.
I treated them very differentlyand I had very different
outcomes.
One was not as good as theother, one was definitely better
(01:35):
than the other.
And so today I want to sharewith you these two breaks, how I
dealt with them, what I didduring them and how they ended
up helping me or hurting methrough this.
So let's dive into it.
The first break was at thebeginning of the year, and
before this break I was in anopera, I was in a few other
(01:57):
ensembles, I was preparing foran oboe technical exam and at
the time I was working throughsome personal stuff as well.
So there was a lot in thesituation.
I was very busy, I was veryoverwhelmed, mentally I wasn't
the best, and so just to likeset the scene for this break,
(02:18):
that's kind of the background,and so when I went into this
break, I was absolutelyexhausted, absolutely exhausted.
But I this break and I took itas an opportunity to work on
things like the podcast andthings like social media and
getting some extra practicehours in, and just basically I'm
(02:39):
like, okay, good a chance,because I've been focusing so
much on, you know, uni work andyou know, because I was in the
opera, which was a part of aproject at my conservatoire, and
you know all of these things.
I was like, okay, finally sometime that I can work on the
podcast, I can work on confidentmusicianing, all of these, all
of like the stuff that's not todo with university.
(03:00):
I can focus on that now and Ican practice.
I can practice a ton.
And I remember that Saturday, atthe beginning of this break, I
had two weeks and I spent twohours that Saturday afternoon
just planning my week or my twoweeks, literally every single
(03:21):
minute, including the fun stuff.
What am I going to do?
You know where am I going to go, what am I going to do?
But those were very few and farbetween in terms of fun,
exciting things.
It was mostly okay I'm going toget this done, this done, this
done.
I'm going to get these emailsout and they'll probably have
replied by two days later.
So then after that, I'm goingto get this, this and this done.
And it was just so busy, sobusy and at the end of it like
(03:53):
okay.
So the first week went okay.
I was okay.
You know, I got the stuff doneand, honestly, I felt quite good
about it.
I was like I've planned thisweek, I've done it, I've gotten
into it.
Oh my gosh, this is great.
But then, by the time the secondweek started, I was behind on
my plan.
And so not only was I behind onmy plan, but I was also feeling
really stressed out about it.
Because I was behind on my plan, I was like, oh my gosh, you
know, I only have two weeks toget all of this stuff done.
(04:14):
What am I going to do?
So then I, like, worked more,and you can tell this was a
catastrophe.
It wasn't good.
I didn't give myself rest, Ijust worked and worked and
worked, and at the end of it, bythe time I got back to school,
I was even more exhausted thanwhen I got into it.
(04:37):
I wasn't ready to focus, Iwasn't ready to work, I felt
exhausted, and I ended upfailing that obo technical exam.
My idea of, okay, I'm going to,you know, be productive, I'm
going to do the best I can, I'mgoing to be, you know, super,
super Eleanor in these two weeks, ended up making it so that I
(04:59):
ended up failing an exam becauseI had overworked myself too
much, and by the time I got tothe exam, I had nothing left.
Nothing, I was like so thatdidn't go well.
That was the first break, and soby the time the second break
came around, I was determinednot to do the same thing,
(05:22):
because on paper it had lookedlike I had done so much.
I had, you know, just all ofthe things I had done, but
mentally, emotionally, just inme, not good, it wasn't good,
and also I had failed that exam.
So the next break, I was like,okay, let's do it differently.
So break two Break two wasthree weeks long and actually
(05:46):
today is the last day of thisbreak at the time of recording,
so it's fresh in my mind and Idid a few different things.
Number one I did not take aSaturday afternoon and plan the
entire break out.
I didn't even take a Fridayafternoon and plan the entire
break out.
I didn't plan the entire breakout.
I had some ideas of what I kindof wanted to do.
(06:09):
I have some school work that Ineed to get done or that I have
been getting done, and thingslike that.
Obviously I wanted to practice,I had goals, but I didn't do
things like okay, you know it'sSaturday right now.
Next Thursday afternoon at 2pm,I know exactly what I'm going to
be working on.
I wasn't going to do thatbecause that was a bit much we
(06:30):
had learned from before.
That was too much, and so whatI did was I just put my goals
and then I was like, okay, andnow we're just going to kind of
go with the flow, sort of we'regoing to have our goals and our
plans, plans and we have our youknow our everyday things and I
know that you know I'm going toend up doing this thing on this
(06:50):
day, but it took the stress outof it.
I feel of like, okay, today iswhatever, and I know that I need
to get this, this and this andthis done and I have to do it
today because tomorrow we have20 more things that we need to
do.
It was more chill and, honestly,that took the stress out of it.
It took the stress out of itand it made me be more in the
(07:13):
moment.
I spent more time grabbingcoffee with friends or chatting
with friends.
I like ran into people on thestreet as well.
I noticed things.
I noticed things, I didn'tnotice things.
The break before and I just wasmore in the moment and more
calm and that was so much better.
(07:33):
And also, when we're thinking oflike productivity, right,
because I feel like my brain,and maybe your brain too, would
say, okay, well, that's great,but were you not as productive I
?
I feel like, honestly, I wasmore productive during this
break than the one that Iplanned meticulously because,
yes, I spent more time grabbingcoffee with friends, but during
(07:57):
those conversations withgrabbing coffee with friends, I
was able to learn things fromthem, like I have really
interesting.
I have interesting friends.
No, but like at theconservatory, you know, there
are people who have are doingprojects.
Maybe they need an oboist.
I got, you know, opportunitiesthat maybe I wouldn't have seen
(08:18):
if I hadn't been just justcalmer generally.
So there were things like that,you know, and I think those
conversations are valuable andso that's kind of how that
worked and I think that that wasmuch better than just me in my
flat on my computer, likesending emails to strangers to,
(08:40):
you know, get opportunities.
That's great.
But also I, you know, havingconversations with people
slowing down, honestly, I feellike got me farther, further,
and so that was good.
I still practiced, but because Ifeel like I had more space in
my life, I felt like I hadpracticed better and I was also
(09:02):
calmer with myself.
I struggle with pain in mypractice.
I have some chronic illnessesthat make it so that if I play
oboe too long I really strugglewith pain.
And so because I was generallycalmer and not kind of pushing
things as much, you know,time-wise I was able to take the
breaks I needed in my sessionsand still get good gains in my
(09:26):
sessions without hurting myself,and I think that that is really
really important and helpful inthis situation and in the
breaks.
So I think the second break wasbetter.
I got so much, so many morecool opportunities.
So many more cool opportunitiescame and I was ready to work on
(09:48):
them and to receive thembecause I had time to.
I had more fun times.
You know I hung out withfriends.
More I went places, more I wasmore chill.
You know, I decided I opted tomaybe have a study session at a
coffee shop rather than havingit in my flat.
I could have probably spentmore time studying if I stayed
(10:08):
in my flat because, you know,coffee shop, you have to pack up
your stuff and then you have togo and then you have to get a
drink and then you have to sitdown and then open your computer
.
And so maybe you know,technically speaking I could
have gotten 20 more minutes if Istayed in the flat, but I
enjoyed myself more, right, if Iwent to a coffee shop, and I
think that's way more important.
(10:30):
And so I think break two reallyhelped me to be better
generally and to feel bettergenerally.
And now, as you know, tomorrowis the first day back at term,
back at the conservatoire, andI'm ready for it.
Honestly, I'm actually reallyexcited to get into things, to
study, to work hard, because Ifeel rested.
(10:51):
You know it's much better.
So kind of thoughts from thesetwo things.
I've just given you twoscenarios and there's definitely
one that's better than theother.
But some thoughts that I haveis the first thing having a plan
is good, but the plans change,right.
(11:11):
The first break that I did, Ihad a plan and I really had a
plan and I did not allow myselfto change the plan at all.
Right, and when I didn't changethe plan and I got behind on
the plan, I got stressed andscared and sad and all the bad
words about all the negativestuff.
But now in this second break, Ihad a plan, right.
(11:38):
I was like, okay, I want to getthis, this and this done.
But I knew that it was going tochange.
And, you know, other thingscame up, opportunities came up
and I still, you know, make timefor the things that I needed to
make time for, but I wasn't asstressed generally, because I
hadn't created this plan thatcould not change.
So plans change.
Breaks are for resting.
This is the second thing.
(11:59):
Second thought breaks are forresting.
As musicians, we still tend topractice, but finding time for
us is crucial.
I think you know I practicethroughout this break and the
other break.
I also practice.
There are times when I don'tpractice.
You know, um, during lastwinter, I took a week off of
Oboe, um, so you know, takingpractice breaks is also crucial
(12:21):
as well.
But even when we are practicing, finding time for us, finding
time for us that we need iscrucial for our well-being as
musicians and also our practiceas well, our growth.
Resting is productive.
And the last thing is with thesecond break, I sat with myself
(12:43):
more, I think the first break,um, I was so I wasn't doing very
well mentally, um, honestly,and so I busied my schedule so
much that I didn't have to sitwith myself and face the fact
that I was struggling mentallyand because of that, you know, I
struggled more.
But this break I sat withmyself more.
(13:06):
I have now a habit of I mean, Ihad this habit and I got out of
the habit and now I'm back intoit of doing five minutes of
meditation in the morning justto check in with myself and
being like, okay, how are wefeeling today.
And being able to do that andto sit with myself has really
helped me to know what I needfrom the day, you know, and be
(13:28):
like, okay, is today the daywhere we can tackle the bigger
task, or is today the day thatwe look at some of the smaller
tasks and maybe the bigger taskcan happen tomorrow?
So things like that, that ismuch that's really helpful as
well.
Okay, yeah, so these are somethoughts from the two different
(13:50):
types of breaks.
Before we do a little recap ofthis, I want to tell you about
something exciting.
So, basically, you know, inboth of these breaks I practiced
right, I practiced, and I think, especially with breaks when we
were breaks from an academicyear, breaks from a schedule, we
(14:11):
often feel like like for me atleast, I often feel like I need
a schedule.
I'm like, oh my gosh, what do Ido with all the time?
I don't know.
And especially with practice,you know we can look at a break
and be like great, more time topractice, but then oftentimes
for me, I find I go into apractice room and I just, you
know, kind of I'm not veryproductive.
I put the hours in, but do Iactually put the time in?
(14:33):
Or the effort I put the time in?
Do I put the effort and thefocus in?
Is it good practice?
And so something that has reallyhelped me with my practice is
planning my practice, and a toolthat has helped me plan my
practice is a notable practicejournal.
This notable practice journalhas really just transformed my
practice.
Honestly.
It makes it so that I can planmy practice and then I can
(14:56):
reflect.
It has reflection questions anda reflection section so that I
can look back on my practice andhonestly be honest with myself
and be like, okay, you know, wasthat too much, was that just
good?
Was that effective?
Should I change this, that andthe other?
And honestly, I feel like thataligns more with the second
break than the first.
(15:17):
As soon as I knew that thisjournal was working.
I knew that I had to tell youabout it and I knew that I had
to give you a code.
So use code ELENOR15 for 15%off your journal.
That is, e-l-e-a-n-o-r 1 5 for15% off your journal and get
yourself a journal and getpracticing more focused and more
effective and intentional.
(15:39):
You know that I don't recommendanything that I don't
absolutely love.
This code is an affiliate code,which means I do receive a
commission with no extra cost toyou.
Okay, let's do a bit of a recap.
So the first thing, well, thefirst break, we could tell I it
wasn't very good.
(15:59):
I um was doing way too much.
I had a plan and I I just stuck.
I had, you know, I made myselfstick to it, um, and I didn't
change it and it was veryrelentless and I ended up
getting behind it, which made mestressed and, um, I didn't give
myself time to rest and or orjust check in with myself
(16:20):
honestly, and it just, you know,on paper I did so much, but
actually I felt really not goodand I ended up failing my Ogo
technical exam because Icouldn't at the end.
You know, by the time I got tothe exam I had worked so hard
that I just had nothing left togive.
Break two was much better.
I still had a plan, an idea,but it was more of an idea and
(16:44):
it wasn't as strict, or you know, it was just, it wasn't as
strict and I could change it andI could work through it, and
that kind of took the stressaway of having a plan, because
sometimes plans that are toorigid give me stress.
I spent more time with friends,not just friends like chilling,
(17:07):
hanging out, having fun, butalso I spent time with friends
talking about social media andpodcasting and doing things like
that, and stuff like that canbe really helpful as well,
because it's social, but we'realso idea balancing off one
another, and so that break wasso much better.
(17:28):
I feel much more rested andmuch more excited to get back
into academics.
So, yeah, so the basicallythoughts from that having a plan
is good.
Plans change, though, and weneed to change with our plans.
Breaks are for resting.
As musicians, we do tend topractice, but finding time for
us to just be people is verycrucial.
And the last thing is thesecond break.
(17:50):
I sat with myself more, so Iwas able to know more what I
needed, and I feel like justchecking in with myself every
single day to be like how do wefeel today is really helpful,
and I definitely didn't do thatin the first break.
All right, that is about it forthis episode.
Thank you so much for hangingout with me.
I hope that this was helpfuland I hope that you found
(18:13):
something from this.
If you did enjoy this, pleasedo give it a like, a comment, a
subscribe, a follow.
Depending on what platformyou're watching or listening to,
it's different, so please doshow the love.
And, yeah, all the links to dowith this episode, including the
(18:35):
blog post to do with it and thelink to get your notable
practice journal, will be in thedescription in the show notes,
and I will see you next time.
All right, take care, bye-bye.
Hello and welcome to the Confident Musicianing
Podcast.
My name is Eleanor and I am aBritish American oboist studying
at the Royal Conservatoire ofScotland literally my dream
school and it took me a long wayto get there.
I applied and auditioned for 12schools in three different
countries.
It was a lot of hard work but,oh my gosh, so worth it.
(00:24):
I want you to have theconfidence to work hard in
achieving your goals, so comewith me as we go on this journey
together.
So sit down, pull up a chair,take a seat or, if you're on the
go, welcome to the ConfidentMusicianing Podcast.
(00:50):
Something that is very different, something that is new to me as
a uni student, especially whenin Europe, is that the breaks
here from the academic year aremuch longer and more frequent
than what I've been used to.
When I was a high schoolstudent in the States they were
much shorter and not not asoften, whereas now they're
longer and more frequent.
And naturally, as someone who'snot necessarily used to that, I
(01:12):
have had to figure out what Ido during those breaks and I'm a
musician so I practice.
But recently I've had twodifferent breaks one at the
beginning of the year and onejust recently and they have been
very different.
I treated them very differentlyand I had very different
outcomes.
One was not as good as theother, one was definitely better
(01:35):
than the other.
And so today I want to sharewith you these two breaks, how I
dealt with them, what I didduring them and how they ended
up helping me or hurting methrough this.
So let's dive into it.
The first break was at thebeginning of the year, and
before this break I was in anopera, I was in a few other
(01:57):
ensembles, I was preparing foran oboe technical exam and at
the time I was working throughsome personal stuff as well.
So there was a lot in thesituation.
I was very busy, I was veryoverwhelmed, mentally I wasn't
the best, and so just to likeset the scene for this break,
(02:18):
that's kind of the background,and so when I went into this
break, I was absolutelyexhausted, absolutely exhausted.
But I this break and I took itas an opportunity to work on
things like the podcast andthings like social media and
getting some extra practicehours in, and just basically I'm
(02:39):
like, okay, good a chance,because I've been focusing so
much on, you know, uni work andyou know, because I was in the
opera, which was a part of aproject at my conservatoire, and
you know all of these things.
I was like, okay, finally sometime that I can work on the
podcast, I can work on confidentmusicianing, all of these, all
of like the stuff that's not todo with university.
(03:00):
I can focus on that now and Ican practice.
I can practice a ton.
And I remember that Saturday, atthe beginning of this break, I
had two weeks and I spent twohours that Saturday afternoon
just planning my week or my twoweeks, literally every single
(03:21):
minute, including the fun stuff.
What am I going to do?
You know where am I going to go, what am I going to do?
But those were very few and farbetween in terms of fun,
exciting things.
It was mostly okay I'm going toget this done, this done, this
done.
I'm going to get these emailsout and they'll probably have
replied by two days later.
So then after that, I'm goingto get this, this and this done.
And it was just so busy, sobusy and at the end of it like
(03:53):
okay.
So the first week went okay.
I was okay.
You know, I got the stuff doneand, honestly, I felt quite good
about it.
I was like I've planned thisweek, I've done it, I've gotten
into it.
Oh my gosh, this is great.
But then, by the time the secondweek started, I was behind on
my plan.
And so not only was I behind onmy plan, but I was also feeling
really stressed out about it.
Because I was behind on my plan, I was like, oh my gosh, you
know, I only have two weeks toget all of this stuff done.
(04:14):
What am I going to do?
So then I, like, worked more,and you can tell this was a
catastrophe.
It wasn't good.
I didn't give myself rest, Ijust worked and worked and
worked, and at the end of it, bythe time I got back to school,
I was even more exhausted thanwhen I got into it.
(04:37):
I wasn't ready to focus, Iwasn't ready to work, I felt
exhausted, and I ended upfailing that obo technical exam.
My idea of, okay, I'm going to,you know, be productive, I'm
going to do the best I can, I'mgoing to be, you know, super,
super Eleanor in these two weeks, ended up making it so that I
(04:59):
ended up failing an exam becauseI had overworked myself too
much, and by the time I got tothe exam, I had nothing left.
Nothing, I was like so thatdidn't go well.
That was the first break, and soby the time the second break
came around, I was determinednot to do the same thing,
(05:22):
because on paper it had lookedlike I had done so much.
I had, you know, just all ofthe things I had done, but
mentally, emotionally, just inme, not good, it wasn't good,
and also I had failed that exam.
So the next break, I was like,okay, let's do it differently.
So break two Break two wasthree weeks long and actually
(05:46):
today is the last day of thisbreak at the time of recording,
so it's fresh in my mind and Idid a few different things.
Number one I did not take aSaturday afternoon and plan the
entire break out.
I didn't even take a Fridayafternoon and plan the entire
break out.
I didn't plan the entire breakout.
I had some ideas of what I kindof wanted to do.
(06:09):
I have some school work that Ineed to get done or that I have
been getting done, and thingslike that.
Obviously I wanted to practice,I had goals, but I didn't do
things like okay, you know it'sSaturday right now.
Next Thursday afternoon at 2pm,I know exactly what I'm going to
be working on.
I wasn't going to do thatbecause that was a bit much we
(06:30):
had learned from before.
That was too much, and so whatI did was I just put my goals
and then I was like, okay, andnow we're just going to kind of
go with the flow, sort of we'regoing to have our goals and our
plans, plans and we have our youknow our everyday things and I
know that you know I'm going toend up doing this thing on this
(06:50):
day, but it took the stress outof it.
I feel of like, okay, today iswhatever, and I know that I need
to get this, this and this andthis done and I have to do it
today because tomorrow we have20 more things that we need to
do.
It was more chill and, honestly,that took the stress out of it.
It took the stress out of itand it made me be more in the
(07:13):
moment.
I spent more time grabbingcoffee with friends or chatting
with friends.
I like ran into people on thestreet as well.
I noticed things.
I noticed things, I didn'tnotice things.
The break before and I just wasmore in the moment and more
calm and that was so much better.
(07:33):
And also, when we're thinking oflike productivity, right,
because I feel like my brain,and maybe your brain too, would
say, okay, well, that's great,but were you not as productive I
?
I feel like, honestly, I wasmore productive during this
break than the one that Iplanned meticulously because,
yes, I spent more time grabbingcoffee with friends, but during
(07:57):
those conversations withgrabbing coffee with friends, I
was able to learn things fromthem, like I have really
interesting.
I have interesting friends.
No, but like at theconservatory, you know, there
are people who have are doingprojects.
Maybe they need an oboist.
I got, you know, opportunitiesthat maybe I wouldn't have seen
(08:18):
if I hadn't been just justcalmer generally.
So there were things like that,you know, and I think those
conversations are valuable andso that's kind of how that
worked and I think that that wasmuch better than just me in my
flat on my computer, likesending emails to strangers to,
(08:40):
you know, get opportunities.
That's great.
But also I, you know, havingconversations with people
slowing down, honestly, I feellike got me farther, further,
and so that was good.
I still practiced, but because Ifeel like I had more space in
my life, I felt like I hadpracticed better and I was also
(09:02):
calmer with myself.
I struggle with pain in mypractice.
I have some chronic illnessesthat make it so that if I play
oboe too long I really strugglewith pain.
And so because I was generallycalmer and not kind of pushing
things as much, you know,time-wise I was able to take the
breaks I needed in my sessionsand still get good gains in my
(09:26):
sessions without hurting myself,and I think that that is really
really important and helpful inthis situation and in the
breaks.
So I think the second break wasbetter.
I got so much, so many morecool opportunities.
So many more cool opportunitiescame and I was ready to work on
(09:48):
them and to receive thembecause I had time to.
I had more fun times.
You know I hung out withfriends.
More I went places, more I wasmore chill.
You know, I decided I opted tomaybe have a study session at a
coffee shop rather than havingit in my flat.
I could have probably spentmore time studying if I stayed
(10:08):
in my flat because, you know,coffee shop, you have to pack up
your stuff and then you have togo and then you have to get a
drink and then you have to sitdown and then open your computer
.
And so maybe you know,technically speaking I could
have gotten 20 more minutes if Istayed in the flat, but I
enjoyed myself more, right, if Iwent to a coffee shop, and I
think that's way more important.
(10:30):
And so I think break two reallyhelped me to be better
generally and to feel bettergenerally.
And now, as you know, tomorrowis the first day back at term,
back at the conservatoire, andI'm ready for it.
Honestly, I'm actually reallyexcited to get into things, to
study, to work hard, because Ifeel rested.
(10:51):
You know it's much better.
So kind of thoughts from thesetwo things.
I've just given you twoscenarios and there's definitely
one that's better than theother.
But some thoughts that I haveis the first thing having a plan
is good, but the plans change,right.
(11:11):
The first break that I did, Ihad a plan and I really had a
plan and I did not allow myselfto change the plan at all.
Right, and when I didn't changethe plan and I got behind on
the plan, I got stressed andscared and sad and all the bad
words about all the negativestuff.
But now in this second break, Ihad a plan, right.
(11:38):
I was like, okay, I want to getthis, this and this done.
But I knew that it was going tochange.
And, you know, other thingscame up, opportunities came up
and I still, you know, make timefor the things that I needed to
make time for, but I wasn't asstressed generally, because I
hadn't created this plan thatcould not change.
So plans change.
Breaks are for resting.
This is the second thing.
(11:59):
Second thought breaks are forresting.
As musicians, we still tend topractice, but finding time for
us is crucial.
I think you know I practicethroughout this break and the
other break.
I also practice.
There are times when I don'tpractice.
You know, um, during lastwinter, I took a week off of
Oboe, um, so you know, takingpractice breaks is also crucial
(12:21):
as well.
But even when we are practicing, finding time for us, finding
time for us that we need iscrucial for our well-being as
musicians and also our practiceas well, our growth.
Resting is productive.
And the last thing is with thesecond break, I sat with myself
(12:43):
more, I think the first break,um, I was so I wasn't doing very
well mentally, um, honestly,and so I busied my schedule so
much that I didn't have to sitwith myself and face the fact
that I was struggling mentallyand because of that, you know, I
struggled more.
But this break I sat withmyself more.
(13:06):
I have now a habit of I mean, Ihad this habit and I got out of
the habit and now I'm back intoit of doing five minutes of
meditation in the morning justto check in with myself and
being like, okay, how are wefeeling today.
And being able to do that andto sit with myself has really
helped me to know what I needfrom the day, you know, and be
(13:28):
like, okay, is today the daywhere we can tackle the bigger
task, or is today the day thatwe look at some of the smaller
tasks and maybe the bigger taskcan happen tomorrow?
So things like that, that ismuch that's really helpful as
well.
Okay, yeah, so these are somethoughts from the two different
(13:50):
types of breaks.
Before we do a little recap ofthis, I want to tell you about
something exciting.
So, basically, you know, inboth of these breaks I practiced
right, I practiced, and I think, especially with breaks when we
were breaks from an academicyear, breaks from a schedule, we
(14:11):
often feel like like for me atleast, I often feel like I need
a schedule.
I'm like, oh my gosh, what do Ido with all the time?
I don't know.
And especially with practice,you know we can look at a break
and be like great, more time topractice, but then oftentimes
for me, I find I go into apractice room and I just, you
know, kind of I'm not veryproductive.
I put the hours in, but do Iactually put the time in?
(14:33):
Or the effort I put the time in?
Do I put the effort and thefocus in?
Is it good practice?
And so something that has reallyhelped me with my practice is
planning my practice, and a toolthat has helped me plan my
practice is a notable practicejournal.
This notable practice journalhas really just transformed my
practice.
Honestly.
It makes it so that I can planmy practice and then I can
(14:56):
reflect.
It has reflection questions anda reflection section so that I
can look back on my practice andhonestly be honest with myself
and be like, okay, you know, wasthat too much, was that just
good?
Was that effective?
Should I change this, that andthe other?
And honestly, I feel like thataligns more with the second
break than the first.
(15:17):
As soon as I knew that thisjournal was working.
I knew that I had to tell youabout it and I knew that I had
to give you a code.
So use code ELENOR15 for 15%off your journal.
That is, e-l-e-a-n-o-r 1 5 for15% off your journal and get
yourself a journal and getpracticing more focused and more
effective and intentional.
(15:39):
You know that I don't recommendanything that I don't
absolutely love.
This code is an affiliate code,which means I do receive a
commission with no extra cost toyou.
Okay, let's do a bit of a recap.
So the first thing, well, thefirst break, we could tell I it
wasn't very good.
(15:59):
I um was doing way too much.
I had a plan and I I just stuck.
I had, you know, I made myselfstick to it, um, and I didn't
change it and it was veryrelentless and I ended up
getting behind it, which made mestressed and, um, I didn't give
myself time to rest and or orjust check in with myself
(16:20):
honestly, and it just, you know,on paper I did so much, but
actually I felt really not goodand I ended up failing my Ogo
technical exam because Icouldn't at the end.
You know, by the time I got tothe exam I had worked so hard
that I just had nothing left togive.
Break two was much better.
I still had a plan, an idea,but it was more of an idea and
(16:44):
it wasn't as strict, or you know, it was just, it wasn't as
strict and I could change it andI could work through it, and
that kind of took the stressaway of having a plan, because
sometimes plans that are toorigid give me stress.
I spent more time with friends,not just friends like chilling,
(17:07):
hanging out, having fun, butalso I spent time with friends
talking about social media andpodcasting and doing things like
that, and stuff like that canbe really helpful as well,
because it's social, but we'realso idea balancing off one
another, and so that break wasso much better.
(17:28):
I feel much more rested andmuch more excited to get back
into academics.
So, yeah, so the basicallythoughts from that having a plan
is good.
Plans change, though, and weneed to change with our plans.
Breaks are for resting.
As musicians, we do tend topractice, but finding time for
us to just be people is verycrucial.
And the last thing is thesecond break.
(17:50):
I sat with myself more, so Iwas able to know more what I
needed, and I feel like justchecking in with myself every
single day to be like how do wefeel today is really helpful,
and I definitely didn't do thatin the first break.
All right, that is about it forthis episode.
Thank you so much for hangingout with me.
I hope that this was helpfuland I hope that you found
(18:13):
something from this.
If you did enjoy this, pleasedo give it a like, a comment, a
subscribe, a follow.
Depending on what platformyou're watching or listening to,
it's different, so please doshow the love.
And, yeah, all the links to dowith this episode, including the
(18:35):
blog post to do with it and thelink to get your notable
practice journal, will be in thedescription in the show notes,
and I will see you next time.
All right, take care, bye-bye.
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