Are Musicians Unhealthy?
Are musicians unhealthy? I’ve worked as a touring musician as well as in corporate offices, hospitality, and retail. I believe it’s incredibly difficult to stay mentally and physically healthy as a touring musician compared to your average 9 to 5 job. This is why…
There are three basic things you need to have covered to have a chance at being mentally and physically healthy:
Sleep
Balanced diet
Exercise
I struggle to get any of these three health essentials when I’m on tour. Big stars like Harry Styles may have people training them, people finding them healthy meals on the road, and a nice private jet to nap in, but this is not what tour life looks like for your average musician.
No sleep
On tour I’ll often get to bed anywhere between 12am and 2am after a show and get up between 4.30am and 6.30am the next day to catch a flight to the next city. This only gives me three to six hours of sleep each night, which is not enough sleep after a normal day, let alone a day of travel, soundcheck and an adrenaline inducing live performance.
My mental health takes a big hit from this lack of sleep. I often find myself anxious, irritable and emotional after a few sleepless days on tour.
No balanced diet
On tour, you’re always eating out so it’s hard to get a clean diet. I usually have to find something at the airport for breakfast, then somewhere near the venue we’re playing at for lunch and dinner. This leaves you with limited options and they’re often unhealthy. Sometimes we get free meals provided by the venue but it’s often unhealthy pub food.
Eating unhealthy food not only packs on the pounds, it also exacerbates fatigue and symptoms of depression.
No exercise
Exercise is the hardest thing to get on tour. Your best option is a run, because it doesn’t require any equipment aside from running shoes. However, there isn’t much time between travel, soundcheck, the show and sleep.
Even if you find time to exercise, you often don’t have anywhere to shower because you’re stuck at the venue most of the day and night.
A lack of exercise is yet another factor that negatively impacts your mental health. Without exercise, you lack endorphins and serotonin that improve your mood.
Alcohol
On top of not getting these three health necessities, the live music scene has an unhealthy drinking culture - although this is improving.
Musicians drink to battle their nerves, to wind down after a show, and to pass the time. It’s one of the only occupations in which drinking on the job is not only allowed, it’s the norm.
Finding solutions
Over the years, I’ve put much more effort into finding ways to get more sleep, healthy food and exercise on the road.
I try to carry healthy snacks so I don’t do a late night junk food run after a show. I take naps whenever I can - usually on the plane or in a green room. And when I’m not napping, I’ll use our small windows of free time to go for walks.
