As my kids get older, our family life gets busier, and I find myself having to be even more intentional about how I spend my time. I know from experience that I’m happier when I’m engaging with my instruments on a consistent basis, so lately I’ve been seeking out ways to make it easier to find time to play. Here are a few ideas I’m incorporating that might be helpful to you as well:
Plan for playing.
Is there a gap between your afternoon meetings? A natural down-time that happens after dinner? Or a few moments first thing in the morning? Try to identify opportunities for playing, so that you can start thinking of it as a normal part of your day-to-day routine.
Find accountability
Is there a uke meetup you’ve been meaning to attend? A friend who’s expressed interest in learning to play? A beginner’s class being held at your local library you can join? We often find motivation and make more progress when we have others involved in our music-making, so try finding others to play with!
Create Visual Reminders
Leave your ukulele out where you can see it, in whatever room you’re most likely to play in. Take a little time to get everything you need all in one place—your music stand, your lead sheets, your tuner, and anything else you might need. We want picking up our ukes to be as easy as possible!
Set a Timer
Setting a 5-, 10-, or 20-minute timer tends to help me stay focused when I play. When I find myself with a too-long to-do list, I’ll pick up an uke and set a timer for however many minutes I feel like I can dedicate. Even five minutes is usually enough for me to experience a mental reset, and I’ve never once regretted taking the time to play.
What’s making it easier for you to play these days?
