Are you going on tour this spring/summer? We got you covered on how to take care of yourself out on the road while you go through all the obstacles that come with road life! The fact is, especially if you are the front man/woman, it is ever important to make sure that “your cup is filled” so that you may then help out others around you and be as productive as possible in leading the band through tour. With the following 5 tips, you can know that you are doing what it takes to make sure you that you are out on the road and promoting your music in the best way that you can.

Exercise

Now I am not talking about running a half marathon every single morning because that is not realistic (for most people on the road!).

Something you can do first thing in the morning that is relatively easy is to take a walk and loosen up anything that might have been contorted while sleeping on that friend’s floor or the bus. You can even turn it in a “gratitude walk” as Tony Robbins coins, where you do a meditative exercise as you while only focusing on your breath and what you are grateful for. The point is that you get up and get your body moving, which is not only good for your body but for your mind as well.
Is someone in your camp into yoga? If so, there are a lot of different great youtube videos of simple routines that can get your body moving to release any tight muscles you may have!
Body weight exercises such as air squats, lunges, push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, pull-ups, running, and jumping are great ways to keep your body moving while on the road!

Nutrition

This component is so incredibly helpful for bodily functions but for mental quality as well. So many people will not feel well and not take into account what they are putting into their bodies.

Find what fuels you in the morning and stick to it. Coffee only? Works for some. For me, it is a smoothie and coffee. I drink that religiously and that way I can save time and never have to think about what I will eat. This combo fuels me until 12:00 pm every single day. For others it may be toast or something smaller. The point is, learn what fuels you best and remove the Mickey D’s breakfast sandwiches, it’ll help you in the long run, guaranteed!
Get a cooler and put some good healthy stuff in there! Turkey, trail mix, and nuts in general, fruit, etc. You know what your band likes… and getting a cooler will definitely save money in the long run!

Hydrate

This is also another commonly overlooked component to healthy tour life.

Water is essential to feeling your best and it can even flush out the toxins consumed while on the road!
Tea can be a great substitute to coffee and so try this out as well!
Monitor consumption during your shows to make sure that you feel the best you can feel.

Community

I have heard countless times that the people you surround yourself with on tour can have a huge impact on how successful the tour goes. I believe this to be true!

Choose the people you surround yourself with wisely. Reconsider the people that create unnecessary problems, require too much energy, aren’t as motivated as you and look for the people that do the opposite of those things!
The old adage “We are the sum of the 3 people we spend most time with in our lives.”

Alone Time

Saving the most important for last! It is essential to get some “you time” while on the road, even away from the people that you love and surround yourself with

Now certain people will thrive off of that extrovert energy more than others but even so, 5-15 minutes a day of just calming your mind and cutting out the “noise” will help you turn your tour into a successful marathon, guaranteed.
Stopping to breathe, clear your mind, and focus on something beyond the stresses of touring life is among the healthiest things you can do.

In conclusion, let us know if the aforementioned 5 tips are helpful for you while you are on tour. Everyone is different and has their own ways of maintaining themselves so let us know what you do! It is just as important now than ever to take care of yourself first. This isn’t being selfish, this is considered the greatest way to keep progressing successfully.

Written by: Trace Loptien