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It’s no surprise that DJs work strange hours — 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. or whenever the crowd dwindles, basically. And like any taxing profession, working long hours stimulating a swarm of partygoers can lead to poor habits. Of course, no one understands this better than Zane Lowe, a performing DJ and the Global Creative Director at Apple Music. After noticing his career put a strain on his personal life, the 47-year-old entertainer began taking care of himself physically and mentally. Here’s how:
Practice Yoga
As most yogis know, practicing yoga does wonders for the mind, body, and soul. Naturally, Lowe swears by it. “I love it because of the breathing,” he told Men’s Health. “I tried it a few times, but it didn’t really connect. I wasn’t ready for it. I wasn’t willing to breathe. I could do the physical things but I was like ‘I’m not getting the benefits here,’ and it’s because I hadn’t learned about the breathing really. And the breathing is the thing.”
Avoid Overworking Oneself
Though Lowe loves his job, he confessed to his old tendency to overwork himself. On a recent segment of Friday Sessions by Men’s Health, Lowe sat with Dr. Drew Ramsey to discuss maintaining mental health in the music industry and how to balance one's work and personal life. “I just wasn’t feeling my best. I realized doing my best work at any given time is not what it’s about. It wasn’t translating into physical and mental joy for me. And it had become this thing like, ‘I have to achieve [more],’” Lowe said.
In fact, Lowe said his past mindset resulted in difficulty sleeping, headaches and stress. Though he initially blamed his strenuous lifestyle on aging, he eventually decided to reduce all the stressors he could control. “I actually felt like I was enjoying it more, which I am. I’m having a great time with what I do. I started making music again. I started feeling creative again,” Lowe said.
Listen To Yourself
By developing healthier habits, Lowe learned to avoid burnout and began enjoying his career and well-being. His main takeaway: Listening. “Give yourself a moment to really listen to what your body is telling you. Ask yourself, ‘Could I feel better? Could I feel better physically? Could I feel better mentally? Could I breathe deeper? Could I experience things in a richer way?’” Lowe said.
Some examples of building healthy habits include limiting social media engagement, practicing meditation, or setting weekly goals. Overall, prioritize understanding what you can change about your lifestyle to feel healthier, stronger, and happier.
Watch the full Instagram Live Friday Sessions featuring Zane Lowe and Dr. Drew Ramsey Below:
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