Time Management for Guitarists

Having trouble finding the time to play guitar as much as you would like? You're not alone. However, a few simple shifts in habits can have a huge impact on how much time you can spend strumming your six-string. The good news is it's totally possible to open up a lot more time in your life for guitar playing. The bad news is that you'll have to fundamentally reform one or more habits in order to make the shift to having an abundance of practice time. Are you up for the challenge? Then come right along and listen as I share three different ways you can start making more time in your life for the guitar today!

You're probably going to fight the first one: waking up thirty minutes earlier. Yes, I said it--get less sleep. Or, rather, start going to sleep a little earlier (while still, perhaps, getting a little less sleep). The whole sleep thing is a big confusing echo chamber in our world these days. There are those who say we don't sleep enough, and there are others who point out that we're addicted to sleep and prioritizing it above a lot of other much more worthwhile things. Well, I'm probably on the side of those who point out that we're psychologically addicted to the 8-hours figure. I certainly have discovered that I can get away with much, much less sleep than the common 8 hours. And I've met many people who have discovered the same thing. But for you, I'm not asking you to become perpetually sleep-deprived. I'm asking you to wake up thirty minutes earlier than you're used to, and immediately upon waking, go practice. Do not pass go, do not do anything other than go the bathroom and have a sip of water. Otherwise you'll just waste the extra time. Wake up 30 minutes earlier and get after your guitar practice!

This one is a toughie: eliminate all distractions. We each tend to do certain things that we use to blow off steam even though they don't necessarily contribute much to our happiness or success. Cut those things out! And focus the time you were spending on them on the things you want to instead, which in your case is practicing and playing the guitar! Stop watching television! Stop idly surfing the internet. Focus continually on what you're here to do, and do it! Everyone in your life will notice the difference, and you'll be so happy you made this change.

Here's another way you can find time to play the guitar: get a teacher. When you are taking regular lessons with a living breathing teacher, you'll have extra accountability to actually do your guitar practice and make progress. Of course, for this to work, you have to actually commit to your teacher and you have to show up and pay for your lesson no matter what. It will only take a couple lessons where you haven't prepared adequately for you to get off your butt and really start putting in solid effort before your next lesson. And the best thing is that even those lessons where you haven't practiced will present you with plenty of great lessons. So, harness the power of positive peer pressure by enrolling with a teacher who will hold you accountable.

If you want to play the guitar better, it's going to require some time and some effort. And you're going to have to maintain a solid level of commitment and follow-through over an extended period of time. This is all about habits. Change the habits that don't support your guitar aims, and you'll have much more time to play the guitar. Better yet, you'll quickly start making huge progress, and then you'll be in the midst of a virtuous cycle of continual improvement. Try it and thank me!