As we have discussed time, and time again, the benefits of playing music are seemingly endless. Of course, in order to actually reap these benefits you’ve got to do something that, for many people, may be harder than actually learning the instrument: finding the time to practice. In today’s fast paced, modern world, we live infinitely busier lives than the generations that came before us. It can almost feel impossible to find the time to do the things we love, the things that really matter to us. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help yourself set goals and priorities, and better manage the free time you do have! Check out our 13 tips to help you better manage your practice time:

1. Wake Up Earlier

Some people’s schedules are so hectic, there is virtually no free time to speak of. If your day is jam-packed, try getting up just 15 minutes earlier. It’s the perfect time to enjoy your musical practice time. The world is still quiet, with no one to interrupt you. Practice your chords, scales, or fingering techniques as you enjoy the sunrise. This also has the added benefit of giving you a welcome feeling of accomplishment to start off your day!

2. Disconnect

Turn everything off. Everything. Your phone, your iPad, your computer. Everything. And dedicate a specific amount of time to practicing. If you absolutely must use some bit of electronics for your practice session, at lease disconnect it from the internet so you’re not tempted by digital distractions.

3. Turn Off the TV

While the internet has become a big and easy source of distraction, the original distractor is still hanging around: television. According to BBM Canada’s reporting, the average Canadian adult watches an average 4 hours and 20 minutes of TV a day! Now just imagine how much music you could make if you simply cut your television consumption by half!

4. Bring it With You

Take your instrument with you to work, school, friends, on vacation, wherever you happen to go. Not everyone can bring their instrument into an office, but there is always break time! There are always small lulls or breaks throughout the day you can fill with music! Of course, make sure you’ve got a good case to protect your instrument during travel.

5. Take it to Lunch

An extension of the last tip, practice during lunch! If you can, seal off your office or work area so you can work on music. Whether your lunch is 30 or 60 minutes, it is a nice chance to get at least a little practice in. It also has a wonderful way of turning even the worst day around after just a few notes!

6. Set a Timer

Every day set a short timer. It can be as short as 5-10 minutes. During that time, work on a particular boring exercise related to your practicing or music theory. This is a great time to work on memorizing dry stuff inside and out, over an extended period of time. Take your time with daily installments.

7. Ask for Time

Your time is yours! If you need time to practice, ask for it from your family. Or better yet, tell them you need 30 minutes. Don’t let anyone or anything distract you for that relatively short period of time. You’ll get a lot more done when you have this time for yourself.

8. Set a Clear Purpose

Before you start your practice session, take a moment to think about what you’ll be practicing today. Fix it firmly in your mind; write it down if that helps. Then simply do it. Stick to the plan, and try to not let yourself wander from it too much. Try to control that “noodling” drive.

9. Take Breaks

We’ve all got our own attention span. For some people, it can be quite long, others not so much. Regardless of which camp you find yourself in it is okay to take a break from your music when you start to feel distracted or restless. Take 10, and come back.

10. Set Another Timer

15, 30, 60, 90 minutes; whatever you think you can handle or have time for. During this period, take your time, and slowly work though a big, perhaps difficult project. The point is not to worry (or even think) about any progress being made, or not being made. You shouldn’t even be thinking about finishing anything during this block of practice time. You should just be focusing on working on it

11. Take a Note From the Dog

The dog gets something tasty when he does something good. S should you. Make sure you treat yourself for a job well done. If the road to improved performance is paved with good feeling and small celebrations, you’ll be much more likely to return it it every day.

12. Don’t Hide Behind Your Job

It’s easy to fall into a pattern of “Oh, I’m too tired, I’ll do it tomorrow,” or “work was rough today, I just want to relax.” But if you get stuck in this cycle, you’ll never improve. Try to make yourself practice for a few minutes regardless of how tired you are. You’ll appreciate the work and effort you put in now, later.

13. To Be Continued…

Don’t leave one practice session without taking note of the things you want to work on next time. This can be what you’d like to learn next, what you need to work on, questions you need to find answers for, whatever. Take a short moment after you’ve finished playing to reflect on and review what you did this session. Make a clear jumping off point for tomorrow’s practicing!

These are just a few simple tips to help you find and manage your musical practice time. Everyone’s daily routine is slightly different, so you will have to try to find the best combination for your own schedule. No matter how you do it, the most important thing to do is find the time in your day, even if it is only 15 or 30 minutes, and make yourself do the work. Your future musician self with thank you.

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