What do you guys do to get in the groove, both mentally and physically?

capnsandwich · #1 08-22-2008, 03:38 PM

I'm guessing this is the right forum for this.

I'm a tired guy right now, both mentally and physically. I wake up a 3 a.m. to get ready for work, drive 30 minutes, work 8-10 hours a day in a hot and humid factory, all on my feet, and then drive 30 minutes back home. I go to pick up my bass after I sit down and eat something, but my mind is so drained and I'm pretty much worthless to anyone who wants my help doing anything. It's taking all I can give just to type this. I really have no strength to play my bass. I'm just too darn tired. However, I have a deep rooted desire to get better and perfect my chops. I have a great bass and and great set up to practice on. I'm at war with myself. My body wants to rest but my heart wants to play.

My question is this. How do you guys overcome this mental state of complacency and press through to play? Even when I do play in this state, there's no groove. Just repetitious para-diddles and scales. It's not just a physical thing, it's just as much mental as well. I won't get better if I don't play but I feel that my playing in this state is arbitrary.

Anyone feel me?

fenderphil · #2 08-22-2008, 03:41 PM

i feel the same way most days.

but i get to practice twice a week at the studio with my bandmates, and i find the groove quite easily.

sometimes, on the weekends, i'll build a playlist on itunes and start with slow melodic songs, then work the list to the heavy/technical side of things. then i just play along...

Mr_Sore_Fingerz · #3 08-22-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnsandwich

I'm guessing this is the right forum for this.

I'm a tired guy right now, both mentally and physically. I wake up a 3 a.m. to get ready for work, drive 3 minutes, work 8-10 hours a day in a hot and humid factory, all on my feet, and then drive 30 minutes back home. I go to pick up my bass after I sit down and eat something, but my mind is so drained and I'm pretty much worthless to anyone who wants my help doing anything. It's taking all I can give just to type this. I really have no strength to play my bass. I'm just too darn tired. However, I have a deep rooted desire to get better and perfect my chops. I have a great bass and and great set up to practice on. I'm at war with myself. My body wants to rest but my heart wants to play.

My question is this. How do you guys overcome this mental state of complacency and press through to play? Even when I do play in this state, there's no groove. Just repetitious para-diddles and scales. It's not just a physical thing, it's just as much mental as well. I won't get better if I don't play but I feel that my playing in this state is arbitrary.

Anyone feel me?

I know how that feels, but the only advice i could think of is look for a better job. You wouldn't want to start relying on energy drinks or w/e else to get you through whatever but put some effort into finding a better situation for yourself and then focus on your playing.

My other suggestion is buy a nice, expensive mattress and put it on your credit card

funkifiedsoul · #4 08-22-2008, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Sore_Fingerz

I know how that feels, but the only advice i could think of is look for a better job. You wouldn't want to start relying on energy drinks or w/e else to get you through whatever but put some effort into finding a better situation for yourself and then focus on your playing.

My other suggestion is buy a nice, expensive mattress and put it on your credit card

Dido!....easier said than done, I know, but if you NEED another job, then there is one waiting for you somewhere.
Doesn't sound like complacency, but rather exhaustion alone. take care &,good Luck

capnsandwich · #5 08-22-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Sore_Fingerz

I know how that feels, but the only advice i could think of is look for a better job.

You don't know how close to home that really hits. I've been dreaming of a new job for years but to find a job making what I make and with the benefits I have isn't the easiest thing in the world. One day, I swear, one day!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Sore_Fingerz

My other suggestion is buy a nice, expensive mattress and put it on your credit card

Now there's a nice option.

capnsandwich · #6 08-22-2008, 05:02 PM

While getting another job may be in the future, I'm really looking for advice on how to get in the groove when my mind is no where near that point. I know the physical aspect will affect the mental portion as well but I need to get past that and forget about how I feel, but where do I begin?

MysticMichael · #7 08-22-2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnsandwich

My question is this. How do you guys overcome this mental state of complacency and press through to play? Even when I do play in this state, there's no groove. Just repetitious para-diddles and scales. It's not just a physical thing, it's just as much mental as well.

When I first glimpsed the title of your thread, I thought: "How peculiar! What could he mean by '..get in the groove...physically?' Grooving is 99% mental." Now I get it.

Sorry to say, but no amount of will power and determination will compensate for physical exhaustion. You need more sleep. Period.

Consider that creativity, as one of the highest intellectual functions there is, makes more demands upon the physical functioning of the brain than any of the lower-level, rote activities. This requires good nutrition and sufficient sleep, among other things.

When that doesn't happen, those higher-level mental functions are the very first to deteriorate. If you've ever been totally sleep-deprived for a couple days or so, then you can probably verify this from your own experience: First your judgment and sense of perspective becomes clouded. Then you find it hard to control your emotions. After that, you start to lose your physical coordination, stumbling, knocking things over, etc.

Ya gotta make some changes in your lifestyle, pilgrim...

MM

capnsandwich · #8 08-22-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

When I first glimpsed the title of your thread, I thought: "How peculiar! What could he mean by '..get in the groove...physically?' Grooving is 99% mental." Now I get it.

Sorry to say, but no amount of will power and determination will compensate for physical exhaustion. You need more sleep. Period.

Consider that creativity, as one of the highest intellectual functions there is, makes more demands upon the physical functioning of the brain than any of the lower-level, rote activities. This requires good nutrition and sufficient sleep, among other things.

When that doesn't happen, those higher-level mental functions are the very first to deteriorate. If you've ever been totally sleep-deprived for a couple days or so, then you can probably verify this from your own experience: First your judgment and sense of perspective becomes clouded. Then you find it hard to control your emotions. After that, you start to lose your physical coordination, stumbling, knocking things over, etc.

Ya gotta make some changes in your lifestyle, pilgrim...

MM

Yep, I've been 3 days straight with no sleep before in the military. I heard things and saw things. It was strange. I'm actually doing better with sleep. I've got a machine that helps me breath at night and I get at least 5 hours but more like 6. That's good compared to the 3-4 I was getting and waking up every so often so I wouldn't suffocate. I have sleep apnea pretty bad.

PocketGroove82 · #9 08-22-2008, 05:55 PM

Capnsandwich,
I'm in the military so I've pulled duty like that before...lack of sleep can mess you up worse than many illegal drugs. Anyways, it sounds like your problem isn't just bass related, it sounds life related. You may want to take serious steps to improve your overall well-being, rather than just "getting more sleep". If you need energy an feel run down, then there is something wrong. Possible problem areas could be your diet, poor nutrition, amount to exercise you get, mental state, stress, the lack of sleep thing, and your poor breathing probably isn't helping much.

I can go months practicing 4-6 hours a day and be fine, but if my life isn't together and I'm neglecting the little things that keep me healthy/sane then my focus and motivation rapidly deteriorate and I wind up on the couch watching that Family Guy rerun for the 100th time. Or spending more time on Talkbass, that playing bass.

There is a lot more to life that just waking up, working, eating, and sleeping.
Man, you gotta start living well. Then the energy comes.

Matt

p.s. I get motivated to practice by getting out and watching inspirational players.

amper · #10 08-23-2008, 02:09 AM

I find the liberal internal application of certain liquid organic compounds helps...

qunndo · #11 08-23-2008, 02:30 AM

My work circumstances aren't as harsh as yours but when i don't feel like practicing i make myself remember those gigs where i didn't perform how i'd expect. They drive me a heap.

But there are other times where i don't feel like touching it at all, and theres nothing i can do in those circumstances. Even when y ou try to play you sound like crap anyway. Just put it aside and pick it up in a week or so. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

And sometimes a new cd breaks a rut for me. Its easy to get up every day, listen to the same stuff and do the same things. You get stuck in a rut. A good cd with a good bass player gets me motivated more than anything.

MysticMichael · #12 08-23-2008, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PocketGroove82

You may want to take serious steps to improve your overall well-being, rather than just "getting more sleep". If you need energy an feel run down, then there is something wrong. Possible problem areas could be your diet, poor nutrition, amount to exercise you get, mental state, stress, the lack of sleep thing, and your poor breathing probably isn't helping much.

There is a lot more to life that just waking up, working, eating, and sleeping.
Man, you gotta start living well. Then the energy comes.

True dat...

MM

Reckless · #13 08-23-2008, 02:01 PM

Over all well-being is important, like PocketGroove82 stated.

For me sleep is a top priority, I can't function properly without it, thats just how I work. I know there are people out there that function with lack of sleep, and I wonder how it's tacking a toll on them. With that said, it's usually those people that are sick often.

steve66 · #14 08-23-2008, 02:45 PM

Get your thyroid checked by a doctor. Its a simple blood test

capnsandwich · #15 08-23-2008, 03:41 PM

It's not as much a health issue as it is just being worn out from work. I have a physical job. I work in an automobile plant that builds car seats for a MAJOR Japanese auto maker and if you know anything about the Japanese, they love to work, A LOT. It's just that when I come home from work I'm beat. I have energy on the weekends and I play my butt off too. It's just that if I practice only on the weekends then I'm only going to sustain my chops, not build on them. I agree with the sleep issue and that's being taken care of. I just need to know what kind of tricks of the trade I could apply to get me into the groove and in the right mind set. I may be a little fat but I am healthy.

capnsandwich · #16 08-23-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve66

Get your thyroid checked by a doctor. Its a simple blood test

I have already and I take medicine for that. Yep, gotta love Synthroid. Tastes like a sugar pill.

Tao4Now · #17 08-24-2008, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reckless

I know there are people out there that function with lack of sleep, and I wonder how it's tacking a toll on them. With that said, it's usually those people that are sick often.

Perhaps not. A study out last week compared the general health of a group that naturally averaged four hours or less of sleep per night with another group that naturally averaged eight hours or more.

The four-hour group had fewer incidences of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes than the eight-hour group. They also suffered from fewer cases of stress-related maladies. Interesting, eh?

That said, Cap'n, your body and brain are telling you something is wrong. Could be sleep, diet, exercise, a lack of intellectual stimulation, or a combination of these or other factors. A physically demanding job is actually a positive factor, provided you get enough mental stimulation in your life as well.

Assess everything. Make changes. Lather, rinse, repeat.

gmahoog · #18 08-24-2008, 09:08 AM

Getting up at 3:00 AM is pretty early, but you might try getting up a bit earlier so you can run through some stuff before you go to work. I find that short practices of maybe 1/2-1 hour a couple times a day help me stay focused on my practicing and I get more accomplished than times when I play for a couple of hours.

Bassmickeyd · #19 08-24-2008, 09:14 AM

Trying picking up your bass and practicing in the morning. Now that's pretty hard to do when you wake at 3am to go to work. But if it's not working the other way, practicing after work, practice when your nice and rested, first thing in the morning, say with coffee. And you'll find you'll retain more of what you've learned first thing rather than later in the day. Because even if your not thinking about it your brain is.
Stretching before you play is good. I do Tai Chi and it works for me.

manutabora · #20 08-24-2008, 09:29 AM

Dood, if it is only exhaustion that is troubling you, I would suggest that before you pick up your bass to play, sit down on your favorite chair/couch/the floor/whatever, with your favorite drink, and listen to some good music that inspires you. I love listening to jazz, but if I need something to put me in a good mood and get me pumped up, then I like me some FUNK! Whatever you like.
But then again, your time may need to be distributed better. Are you spending enough time with family? with your spouse/girlfriend (if you have one)? Most importantly, are you spending enough time with the Lord?