30 Lessons for your 30’s

Entering your 30s as a performer often marks a significant milestone. It’s a time of reflection, growth, and perhaps a few more responsibilities creeping into your life. If you’ve been performing since you were officially an ‘adult’ then you’ve been at it for over a decade now and if you started as a child then chances are you’ve been performing for over two decades!

As you juggle your passion for performing with the demands of adulthood, it’s essential to prioritise self-care, ensure longevity in your performance and effectively manage the stress that comes with the territory.

Here are 30 valuable lessons tailored to help you thrive in your 30s. These are cultivated from my own experience over the years. Some are hard learnt lessons, and some are brilliant and valuable advice that I have received over the years.

1.     Prioritise Sleep: Gone are the days of pulling all-nighters without consequences. Adequate rest is crucial for optimal performance and your overall health.

2.     Stay Active: Incorporating regular exercise into your routine will help keep your body strong and resilient. If you are already active with your rehearsal schedule, consider taking up an activity that incorporates different types or styles of movement to what your regular schedule includes.

3.     Mind Your Posture: Hours spent rehearsing and performing can take a toll on your body and your posture. Be mindful of the habitual postures you find yourself in regularly, particularly when relaxing in front of the TV or working on your computer. Consider getting some regular treatment to help balance out these habitual patterns.

4.     Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate: Water is your best friend. This is the true ‘adult drink’. Proper hydration is essential for vocal health, muscle health, joint health, and mental clarity. There’s a reason why giant water bottles are everywhere these days – get on the hydration train (giant water bottle optional).

5.     Balance Work and Play: While perusing your passion is rewarding and exciting, don’t forget to care out time for relaxation and leisure activities. Burnout is real.

6.     Nutrition Matters: Consistently fuelling your body with nutritious foods that support your energy levels and overall wellbeing is one of the best choices you can make for yourself. There’s plenty of room for treats and enjoying yummy food, but the days of your body surviving on poor nutrition are likely coming to an end. A balanced diet enhances your performance and your recovery.

7.     Practice Mindfulness: Incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily routine to manage stress and stay grounded amidst the chaos and adrenalin of performing.

8.     Set Boundaries: Learn to say no when necessary. Boundaries are crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and protecting your mental health.

9.     Invest in Self-Care: Care for your body, mind and spirit with self-care rituals that help restore your energy. Self care can take many different forms, it can be something simple like some alone time to read a book or it can be something more indulgent like a ‘soak and float’ session or a relaxing massage.

10.     Build Your Tribe: Surround yourself with people who uplift and encourage you. A strong support system is invaluable during the highs and lows of your career. Now is the time to get discerning about who is part of your tribe. Draw in the people who make you feel good, help you to shine and support you as you grow.

Surround yourself with people that match your vibes and it will be repaid back to you.

11.     Learn to Delegate: You can’t do it all alone. Delegate tasks whenever possible to lighten your load and prevent overwhelm. The ‘only I can do these things’ attitude does not serve you in the long run.

12.     Embrace Failure: Mistakes and setbacks are inevitable. Instead of dwelling on them and asking ‘why me?’ view them as opportunities for growth and learning. Ask yourself ‘what is this experience trying to teach me?’

13.     Keep Learning: Never stop honing your craft. Take a new class, attend a workshop, seek out mentorship opportunities to continually improve as an artist. It’s never too late to learn a new skills, rediscover an old one or reinvent yourself. Continuous learning is how we evolve and grow.

14.     Practice Gratitude: Cultivate a mindset of gratitude and watch how it changes your life! Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small and acknowledge the blessings in your life. Practicing gratitude makes a big difference to the days when it’s hard to embrace the failures.

15.     Find Your Outlet: Explore other artistic avenues to keep your creativity flowing. Painting, writing, dancing, singing or try something that you’ve never tried before - even you don’t think you’ll be any good at it. You never know what passion or skill you might uncover.

Why not try your creative hand at building and creating?

16.     Disconnect Regularly: Taking a break from social media can be an excellent way to recharge and reconnect with the world around you. This is particularly valuable when you notice that the habits and routines around social media are becoming less healthy.

17.     Seek Feedback: Constructive criticism is essential for growth. Don’t be afraid to seek feedback from trusted peers and mentors.

18.     Invest in Good Equipment: Whether it’s a comfortable guitar strap, or a case with wheels or even an ergonomic keyboard. Invest in tools that support your physical wellbeing both on and off the stage.

19.     Practice Patient: Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a successful and long career. Be patient with yourself and trust the process – especially if you’re not currently where you want to be. This lesson is also relevant when you are coming back from an injury.

20.     Celebrate Milestones: Take time to acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments. Reflecting on how far you’ve come can be incredibly motivating.

21.     Stay Humble: No matter how successful you become, humility is key. Stay grounded, remember where you came from, and stay true to yourself.

22.     Manage Finances Wisely: Financial stability is not only essential for living well but cultivating it also helps you to do the things you love and invest in yourself. Budget carefully and plan for the future. If you’re not sure where to start with budgeting google The Barefoot Investor – he makes budgeting and getting on top of your finances approachable and fun.

23.     Stay Curious: Approach your day with curiosity and wonder. Stay open to the possibility of new experiences and opportunities. While being curious every single day in every moment may not be the most productive use of the time, be sure to give yourself the permission to try new things when an exciting opportunity comes along.

24.     Nurture Relationships: Cultivate meaningful connections with collaborators, industry professionals and fans. Move beyond the social media ‘like’ and build strong relationships with people who can open doors for opportunity and create lasting working partnerships.

25.     Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself, especially during challenging times. Treating yourself with the same compassion you would offer to a friend is one of the most valuable life lessons you can learn. A little love and kindness helps things to grow, including you!

26.     Stay Versatile: Adaptability is key in an ever-changing industry. Stay versatile and be willing to explore new styles or genres. Experimenting with different genres can help build your skills in your specific niche. It’s the performer’s version of cross training.

27.  Schedule Downtime: Make downtime a non-negotiable part of your schedule. Schedule in time for breaks during rehearsal and in your performing schedule. Time for resting and recharging will help you to perform at your best for longer.

28.  Stay Organised: Use a system for organising your schedule, your appointments, your commitments and creative projects that works for you. Try a digital organiser app like Asana, Trello, or Any.do. 24me is great for the busy person moving from location to location in your day – it gives you reminders of when to leave based on your next scheduled meeting location and even weather warnings. If digital is not your thing then invest in a beautiful paper diary that offers the space for you to compile all your important notes and reminders in a way that suits you.

29.  Cultivate Resilience: Performing can be a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. Cultivate resilience to weather the inevitable rocky patches with grace and resilience.

30.  Listen to Your Body: Finally, listen to your body. By now you will have learnt to interpret the subtle (and not so subtle) messages that it sends you. It will tell you when it needs rest, nourishment or care. Pay attention and respond accordingly.

Incorporating these lessons into your life can help you navigate your journey through your 30s (or 40s, 50s or beyond because it’s never too late to start) with grace, resilience, and sense of purpose. Remember your wellbeing (physical and mental) is just as important as your performance. Take care of yourself and your performance will flourish.

If you find yourself in need of some expert care and assistance for your physical wellbeing then consider exploring the benefits of Myotherapy. It has a focus on evidence-based assessment to understand your presentation and providing a tailored treatment plan for you. At Melbourne Performance Therapy we specialise in working with performers, we get you and your body. Myotherapy can be the support you need on your journey as a performer.