Mental Health in the Thick of a Season

Practices, staff meetings, chatting with parents, itineraries, group well-being….teaching a guard, no matter the level, often feels like a full-time job. And many of us have another full-time job. On top of that, if you are from the midwest like me, seasonal depression mixed in with that combination is the cherry on top! Balancing everything you need to do is incredibly rewarding… but can also be draining and take a toll on your well being. How do you continue to fuel yourself while you are fueling everyone else in your life? Let’s talk.

Your mental health should be your number one priority, always. It took me years of overexerting myself to realize this. I have answered parent panic emails at midnight. I have worried about small details of the show while I am out with my friends. I have taken on too much and not had time to go out with friends at all. You know the saying, ‘you can’t serve others if your cup is empty’ – I always thought I knew what that meant: a lot of Taco Bell and binge watching my favorite shows while I was doing work. Are you surprised that is NOT what that means? Me too. After SEVEN years of this cycle, this year I took a very different approach. And it changed how I felt every step of the way. Did I do all of these things every day? Absolutely not. I needed reminders and pick-me-ups but I didn’t feel as mentally exhausted. If this sounds like you, here are some recommended ways to manage your mental health in the middle of a season. 

1. Set limits. Set limits. And set more limits. 

I can’t stress this enough. You should not answer emails past a certain time. You deserve to have time to recover. Know what is yours to deal with, and what is for your band director. As much as our worlds seem to revolve around this activity, one parent who has unrealistic expectations of you should not run your world. 

2. When you have more free time, plan ahead

This winter, I had a free Saturday in January (how rare is that?) so I decided to prep all of my itineraries and weekly emails. I made a google drive folder separated into different documents for each week and filled in the information that I could like ticket prices, addresses, checklist, things that are tedious and don’t like to do in the heat of the season. It saved a ridiculous amount of time in the moment, even if I had to edit a few things. Pro tip: the MORE you communicate with your families and students, the less conflict and confusion you have to deal with during the weeks. Preparation is key!

I also planned my rehearsals for my staff Sunday evening after hearing judge’s tapes. This saved practice time and stress in the middle of the week! We knew what we needed to plan and how to make it happen.

3. Work smarter, not harder

Utilize your staff in creative ways. Delegate different tasks you feel comfortable – especially when it comes to design. Have them help with hair and make-up details. Putting together a list of products they need to communicate with parents. That can save you time in the end. 

This winter, we used a Facebook group for our students and parents. We recorded as much as we could so we didn’t have to spend time stressing about missed details. These little details saved us massive amounts of time because students could refine details in their spare time and personal practices. This small step can increase your show detail without the extra work.

4. When you are off the clock: NO stressing. 

I know. Easier said than done. It is easy to start to relax and then your mind wanders back to your to-do list. This steals the time you needed to “fill your cup”.  Spending time with people who make things fun for you is always a plus. Laughter is the best medicine.

Allowing yourself to know when you need a second to ground yourself is an important skill for everyone. When you have people looking to you for guidance and responsibility in a busy time of life, remember that YOU are also looking to yourself for those things. Take care of yourself. What are other tips you have to stay balanced during a hectic season?