If there is an industry that has suffered significant struggles since the global pandemic of COVID-19, it is the entertainment industry or, the creative industry. Independent artists and creative professionals from all genres had to cease their means of obtaining income since no live events or artistic workshops of any kind were permitted. In addition, the pandemic instilled massive amounts of fear and uncertainty in artists, and many of them were left petrified of how they were going to continue in their industry.
In many cases, artists rely on performances, expos and exhibitions to gain visibility and make a living. However, there are many times when other factors, not just a global pandemic, have catapulted those emotions of doubt and had artists questioning why they decided to pursue this career in the first place.
People must practise self-care, especially in these difficult and challenging times when things feel so uncertain. Here are some healthy habits, coping techniques, and self-care tips for independent artists.
Just Breathe
Anxiety can cause your heart to race and breathing to become shallow. The response to fear is known as the “fight or flight” response, and artists are no strangers to feeling it.
When feeling anxious, the best thing that you can do is put a hand on your chest, close your eyes, and breathe in and out slowly. Then, count your breaths in and out to hold for five seconds. This exercise is helpful to slow down your breathing and allow your body to calm down. Confidence is the key to the survival in the independent world.
Move Your Body
Moderate exercise is an excellent way to shift your focus and goes a long way to providing you with both physical and emotional benefits. Take a break and do a few jumping jacks or take a brisk walk outside in the sunshine. You can also meditate and incorporate yoga into your daily routine. Since yoga centralises its focus on the breath, you can help put your mind at ease.
Take a Break From Notifications
Whilst fun, social media can be time-consuming and add to your stress. Artists can easily cross the line into becoming obsessed with whether or not their latest work is getting enough attention. Notifications can also become very distracting from completing other tasks you may have set out to do, adding to your stress. Do yourself a favour – turn off the notifications and spend some time away from your computer or phone, so you can give yourself a rest and feel more refreshed.
Develop New Ways to Obtain Income
Independent artists suffer a threat to their livelihood since performances, concerts, exhibitions and other live gigs couldn’t happen due to the pandemic. As a result, they had to shift their creative ways, and they have discovered new ways to stay relevant within the industry and still make money.
Some great examples of ways to try alternate income streams are: create online masterclasses, teach private piano lessons or any other instruments, and even perform live streams sharing your valuable knowledge about your skills online be it about painting, pottery, or the business side of being an artist because there is an audience for every niche. However, don’t sell yourself short – there are plenty of opportunities to discover creative ways to make money as an artist that doesn’t involve on ground events.
LEARN ABOUT THE WAYS YOU CAN MAKE MORE MONEY ONLINE.
Understand Your Emotions
Coping with stress and anxiety begins when you recognise your emotions and understand that you need to find ways to regulate them. Being mindful of your feelings helps with coping, and some artists can always rely on their art to improve their wellbeing and deal with stress. Hopefully, some of these other techniques and tips will provide a path to relieve and provide you with a peaceful state of mind.