8 ways for artists to get out of an emotional funk during Covid-19

Artists are hurting right now. Whether the void inside you is financial, emotional, or creative, our current state is tough on everyone. It’s essential to recognize the suffering, understand that we’re not alone, and be able to live in the now with as much happiness and contentment as possible.

As said in Carousel, “At the end of the storm is a golden sky And the sweet silver song of a lark.” The end of the storm will come, and we will rejoice when it does.

In the meantime, here are some ways to fill that emotional void while the ghost light is still on.

Savoring Favorite Performances.

Ok, this one might sound weird. You think of “savoring” as when you’re eating, but it’s a practice that helps mental health in a variety of ways.

According to the app “ReWire” (free in the app store), Savoring is the simple act of stepping out of your experience, reviewing it, and appreciate it while It’s happening. Doing this practice helps us remember what’s going well, allows us to be more in the present moment, and we can feel gratitude for what is or what was.

The question is, how do you do this when you’re not performing? How do you savor a moment that is not in front of you? How about a trip down memory lane? Pull out old programs, pictures, videos of your favorite performances either that you participated in or watched.

Listen to a cast album or watch these performances removing all cynicism that may have developed over the years. Watch or listen with the mindset of what made you first fall in love with that performance. Remove distractions and bask in the joy of experiencing that again. Try it and note if there’s a positive mood change.

Gratitude

The simple act of expressing your gratitude is known for boosting mood and mental health. It provides happiness that lasts; it improves self-care, relationships, physical health. Many studies prove the lasting effects of keeping a gratitude journal, so why not do that specific for your artistic life?

Think about what has happened that you’re grateful for, what do you still have, what you can look forward to in the future. It can merely be a list of talents that you have that make you who you are as an artist. Writing them down is a beautiful reminder when times are tough. Once you go down the rabbit hole of what you’re grateful for, you’ll be surprised how many blessings you’ll find.

Appreciate the moment

The last two points focused more on the past, which is excellent. However, it’s also important to recognize, appreciate, and get in touch with what is. Often, in times of stress, we think about “what if”… “What if I get sick” “What if a business I love will eventually have to close.” There is a saying that worrying is a misuse of your imagination. In times like we’re in, our imagination and anxiety can be very active, so a way to bring it back to the moment is through mindfulness meditation.

There are many apps, Youtube videos, and books that can guide you through how to do this, but a simple trick is to sit comfortably, close your eyes, pay attention to your breathing, and focus on what is *actually* here. Use your senses to put you back in the moment. Doing this daily is a beautiful re-set, and it offers you a chance to be intentional with how you want to go about your day.

Connect with friends

Raise your hand if you love zoom cocktail parties, but it’s getting a little old. I know it’s tough. There are so many ways to connect with friends safely. Follow the rules, maybe do more if you live in a state or area where your leader is in denial. The point is, a connection is so important. We’ve lost some of it due to having to be locked down, but there are ways of doing it safely.

As humans, we’re wired for connection. We’re social creatures, so find ways daily to connect with someone. Smile with your eyes behind your mask to someone on the street, call a friend that you haven’t talked to in a while, do online broadway trivia. In short, don’t lose those connections, even if we have to wait for group hugs.

Share Your Knowledge

Giving back is an act of kindness, and another proven way to boost your mood. Can you offer lessons on anything? Recently, I provided a zoom presentation on auditioning for kids at a local theatre. Just the act of thinking of content, developing it and sharing it was a way to tap into the creative part of my brain that needs to be engaged. I’m sure you understand and can relate. If you have a way to offer your talents remotely, it can be an excellent way to provide an artistic outlet for you, as well as help someone else.

Work on new skills

With the announcement of lockdowns, I honestly thought it would be much shorter, so I had the plan of really working on some new skills while we had nothing but time on our hands. I have to admit, I haven’t kept up my end of the bargain, but it’s still a great way to utilize the time before your next audition. Jot down things you feel you may need to work on to get to the next level. If you have friends that you trust to give kind, constructive criticism, ask them.

The one rule is, this is for growth. If it’s going to offend you, maybe stick with what would like to improve. It could get better at the piano. You can take zoom lessons, There are apps like Yousician, and many teachers will publish videos on Youtube to give basic instruction or enhancing skills. Maybe you want to learn how to sight-read better.

The same can be done by watching videos or going to websites specifically for ear training. Your new skills could be as simple as reading plays that you always meant to, reading books on directing, listening to new shows to brainstorm new songs for your audition book. Now is an excellent time to propel your craft into the next level!

Congratulate Yourself

Have you ever looked back on something and said, “oh, that’s right! I forgot about how good that show was” or listen to an old recording of yourself, and say “wow, I’ve improved!” That doesn’t just happen. You did it with the help of others, but you’ve accomplished so much, and sometimes we lose sight of that. Try this: make a list of a significant accomplishment that you feel very proud of in your artistic life. Then, think back to the very beginning of you starting in the performing arts. What did it take to get accomplishment?

Write out every little thing that you did to get there. You will be amazed at the work that you’ve done up to this point. Whenever you feel like nothing is working, you’re not getting anywhere, or anything related to that, reference this list and realize how far you’ve come and how you will continue to go if you keep working.

Set New Goals

Now is a perfect time to stop and reflect. Where are you now in your performing career, and where do you want to go? We can only control so much, so writing “book a national tour by 2023”, could be lofty at any point. There are just so many variables.

However, what things do you want to accomplish that are in your control? You can set small goals like “audition for at least three shows per month” (when you can), or “add a new song per week to my audition book.” It can also be larger goals like the aforementioned “book a national tour by 2023”. If you have a goal like that, it’s essential to be realistic and list out everything it would take to achieve that goal.

Work backward, and maybe adding songs to the book is part of that. Think of the big and little steps it would take, and then you have your small, manageable goals. Find the best way to keep these goals organized, so you know if you need to change directions or adjust. Nothing is set in stone.

I hope these tips have helped. It’s important to remember that although we aren’t where we were or where we want to be, there are still great things that are happening and can happen in the present moment. Take care of yourself.