Read on to discover how violinist Chloe Chua maintains a healthy work-life balance...
Making time to relax and let your mind go
I think I first started learning about work-life balance as a child. I was homeschooled, which was quite a relaxed way of learning in some ways and quite challenging in others. For example, violin concerts and academic exams would often clash, and I had to learn to juggle these in my mind as well as externally. I learned to get very well organised very quickly – and to make time to relax and let my mind go to different places.
My ways of switching off include reading, gaming and exercise. Exercise is so important for musicians, as we need the stamina to keep performing. If you don’t build up and maintain this stamina, it’s easy to feel burnt out after a few performances. You need to keep yourself in the condition where you are ready to perform at any time.
Healthy work-life balance... listen to what your brain tells you
I practise around five hours a day, but I am quite flexible about exactly when that is. Rather than designating a fixed time to stop, I listen to what my brain is telling me. If it wants me to relax, that’s what I will do.
I hope I have found the right balance between work and relaxation. My manager Hans Sørensen plans my concert schedule in a way that feels manageable, giving me time both to prepare calmly and unhurriedly for those concerts, and to balance the other parts of my life. A good, understanding manager is very important here!
Lastly, I believe it’s very important to maintain relations with friends and family – not just as a person, but as a musician too. Meaningful relationships can feed into the way you practise and perform, and it’s very important not to isolate yourself.
Chloe Chua’s new album Butterfly Lovers & Paganini is out now on the Pentatone label.