Top 10 Tips to get you going when you don’t feel like practicing

There are all kinds of reasons for why we don’t feel like practicing.

Have you ever said to yourself, “Ugh, I just don’t feel like it. Nevermind.”

When this happens, where are you? Are you on the couch watching Netflix? Do you have “couch lock”?

Here are my TOP TEN TIPS to help you get going:

1. "Mick’s Five Minute Rule” (We have talked about this before...)

When you are feeling stuck, get your viola out, rosin your bow, tune your viola and practice for five minutes. Set a timer!

When it goes off, if you feel like putting the viola away, you can stop practicing. 

I have never, not even one time, stopped practicing after five minutes. What is the takeaway? Getting started is the hardest part. Just start.

2. Have a plan

The night before, write down what your practice goal is for the whole week and what it is for just tomorrow. Set it next to your bed and look at it in the morning.

3. Set small goals

If your goal is to learn an a huge passage, decide how many lines you’ll learn today and don’t go over. Having a HUGE goal is overwhelming and makes us not want to start. 

4. Eliminate distractions

My biggest distraction is my phone. I use my phone during my practice but I put it in airplane mode.

5. Know the why! 

The bigger the why the harder the try! What are you preparing for? Why is it important to you to play your best? 

6. Reward yourself

Set a reward system: decide on the number of minutes you want to practice this week and time yourself. When you hit that number, give yourself a reward - up to you! Can be small, can be big, but go through with it. 

7. Create a comfortable space

If you’re having trouble getting started, think about what would make you comfortable as you practice. What temperature does the space need to be? How bright/dim do lights need to be? Close door? Middle of the living room? Obviously, some of this is dependent on things beyond your control, but control as much as you can. 

8. Use an App

One of my best and favorite practice tools is an app called "Seconds Pro”.I am going to write a whole different post just about it. 

9. Start with something enjoyable!

Begin your practice by playing something you genuinely enjoy. Starting with something pleasant can help shift your mindset and help you tackle more challenging aspects of your other pieces.

10. Have an accountability buddy

Tell a buddy how long and what you’re going to practice this week and then check in with each other. Often, we show up for others more than we show up for ourselves (this is why group class at the gym works!)

I hope these help you. I promise, they certainly help me!