Guitar Article Written by “Friend Of Mike Walsh”
So You Think You Don't Have Time For Playing Guitar Right Now?'
By: Janez Janežič
Are you having a tight schedule, but also want to be a great guitar player?
Does your lifestyle require you to have a schedule in order to be able to cope with everything?
If you are like me and have many things to do or think about and you only have a few hours left in the day (if any)... then a schedule can be a life saver. A schedule is a great tool to keep yourself organized and your mind free of having to think too much about all of the things that need attention. Not being organized and having all of the things somewhere at the top of your head always results in stress and overwhelm. In modern days too many people are stressed out and overwhelmed. There is very little time and energy left for working towards your goals, especially musical goals. And that's the main reason why so many people quit playing guitar after they »grow up«.
So you think you don't have time?
How much time throughout the day could you save by being more productive and working more efficiently? 5-10 mins?
How much time per day do you spend scrolling social media? 30 mins? Can you use that time for something more productive (and also healthier)?
How much time do you just waste procrastinating? 20 mins per day?
Even if it's only a few minutes on each activity, you could potentially already save an extra hour for practicing your guitar skills. And most people usually waste even more time than the example given above.
So, can you schedule an hour or at least 30 mins per day for practicing and achieving your deepest desires?
»But I have so many things to do… «
Schedule them all. By doing this you will minimize the stress and waste, and also maximize productivity and consequently: time. You CAN do everything if you only take the time and plan everything out. You'll see that once you write things down, you'll have time for everything: family, practicing, work, chores etc.
One thing to be careful with (which also happens to me) is scheduling too many hours right at the start of the week (Monday or Tuesday). Over-scheduling while thinking »I need to do it all«, leaving no time for your guitar playing. At the end of that same week you usually find out you actually had the time to do it all AND practice guitar every day, if only you distributed the work throughout the week properly. That's exactly why it's crucial to have a schedule, and stick to it.
Successful people don't have time, they MAKE time. So, can you make 60 minutes every day for your guitar playing?
Yes. Just do it, plan your week!
And no, it's not going to »robotize« you. If anything, it's going to make your life less stressful, more productive and much happier. And what's more human than enjoying your life?
So what are some of the good practices when it comes to scheduling a block of time for your guitar playing?
I like to have an empty head before starting to practice. That's how I can really concentrate on the details of my playing and get better results, because the practice is way more effective that way.
That being said I wouldn't recommend picking up your guitar right after work, because our minds are usually still full of unfinished tasks, open projects or new ideas, which causes our thoughts to fly away and lose concentration. Unless you have a mind of steel or that's the only opportunity you have to pick up your guitar, I wouldn't recommend doing that.
In my experience, these are the best times to pick up your guitar:
· First thing in the morning right after your morning routine (if you have one)
· After taking a walk
· After a physical workout
· After meditation (if you practice it).
These are the situations that work great in my case. I usually feel refreshed and ready to take on new challenges (like practicing guitar) after these activities.
Now, if you're able to completely divert your thoughts towards concentrating on your practicing, then great! You can just put your guitar practice on your schedule right away, without extra thinking. But if you are like me, and have many things on your mind, feel free to give this a try. In each case, you should do what works best FOR YOU.
Now, when are YOU going to pick up your instrument? 😊
About the Author
Janez Janežič is an aspiring guitarist, teacher and songwriter from Slovenia. He is committing most of his time and energy to his passions, which are writing music and creating the best creative guitar lessons in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.