Studio Lifestyle Survey Brings Worrying Results
Some weeks ago we ran a survey in our article The Hidden Costs Of The Recording Studio Lifestyle: How Are You? to see how those working in recording studios were managing their basic health needs, such as breaks, exercise, time off, sleep and vacation. The results are worse than we expected.
Poll Results
First, here are the results of the survey, 400 people responded.
Short Breaks During Sessions:
40% take breaks occasionally
35% frequently
17% rarely
9% always.
Regular Lunch Breaks:
36% always take a lunch break
26% frequently
24% occasionally
14% rarely
Days Off for Relaxation:
39% occasionally take days off
27% rarely
25% frequently
10% always
Fresh Air Activities (e.g., Walk, Run):
36% rarely go out for fresh air
33% occasionally
17% frequently
15% always
Annual Holidays/Vacations:
32% take a holiday rarely
31% once a year
31% a few times a year
7% regularly.
Average Sleep Per Night:
45% get 6 to 7 hours
28% more than 7 hours
24% 5 to 6 hours
4% less than 5 hours
Analysis
Our survey reveals insightful data. Key findings include:
Breaks and Work-Life Balance: Only 9% always take short breaks, and a mere 36% regularly take lunch breaks. This lack of rest during work hours is concerning, given the cognitive and physical demands of audio production.
Physical Activity: The survey indicates limited engagement in physical activities, with 36% rarely going out for fresh air.
Annual Vacations and Relaxation: Only 7% of respondents take regular holidays, suggesting a potential burnout risk.
Sleep Patterns: 45% of the participants sleep for only 6-7 hours, less than the recommended 7-8 hours, raising concerns about sleep deprivation.
Recommended Health Guidelines
Contrasting these findings with general health guidelines paints a worrying picture. Regular breaks, physical activity, and sufficient sleep are cornerstones of maintaining good health. The lack of these in the daily routines of audio professionals aligns poorly with recommended practices, which emphasises good dietary choices (not in in our survey), daily routines, physical exercise, and mental health balance.
This disconnect could lead to various health issues, including chronic stress, heart problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, and mental health challenges. Add to this that many of those working in this sector are self-employed and the absence of conventional healthcare and pensions exacerbates these risks, potentially leading to a healthcare crisis within the community.
It's crucial for audio professionals to proactively address these lifestyle concerns. Simple changes, like scheduling regular breaks, incorporating physical activity into daily routines, and prioritising sleep, can have significant health benefits. The survey findings highlight the urgent need for a shift in lifestyle among audio professionals. By adopting healthier habits and advocating for better health benefits, this community can safeguard its health, ensuring longevity and sustainability in their careers.
What Can You Do?
We’ve written before about the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. The book outlines that small things can lead to big changes. So we don’t expect anyone to read this article and go from no exercise to a 5K run right away. It’s better to have a plan of small changes that you can do on your worst days, than an unachievable plan that you can’t even do on your best days.
Here's a straightforward plan that can be easily implemented. As we say, start small, read Russ’ story to find out more at the end of the article.
Scheduled Breaks: Set alarms to take short breaks every hour or two. Use this time to stretch, rest your eyes, and disconnect briefly from work.
Mindful Eating: Dedicate time for mindful, uninterrupted lunch breaks. Choose nutritious foods that fuel your body and mind. It may mean leaving the building, don’t eat at your workstation, people will think you are still working.
Daily Exercise: Incorporate at least 30 minutes of physical activity into your day. This could be a brisk walk, a short run, yoga, or any form of exercise that you enjoy. It could be walking to your studio, of close enough, or parking a kilometre away and walking the rest. That is 2K extra exercise a day, 10K per week and a staggering 500K per yer!
Regular Sleep Routine: Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Establish a calming bedtime routine and try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Put devices in silent mode before and during sleep time.
Hydration and Nutrition: Keep water at your workstation and drink regularly. Opt for healthy snacks like fruits, nuts, or yogurt.
Mindfulness and Relaxation: Practice mindfulness or meditation daily, even if it's just for a few minutes, to reduce stress and improve focus. It’s not all Yoga and humming, it can be as simple as some breathing exercises each day.
Social Interaction: Make time for social activities or connect with friends and family regularly. This can be a vital aspect of mental health.
Professional Development and Hobbies: Engage in activities outside of work that enrich you, whether it's learning new skills, hobbies, or reading.
Regular Health Check-ups: Schedule and attend regular health check-ups to stay on top of your health.
Work-Life Balance: Set clear boundaries between work and personal life to ensure you have time to recharge.
This plan is designed to be flexible and adaptable to individual lifestyles and work schedules. The key is consistency and making small changes that can lead to significant improvements in overall well-being.
Russ’ Story
I’d been working in Soho, London running a post facility. For anyone who has been in that world, it involves a lot of eating and drinking. I had ballooned to around 21 stones, my head looked like a bowling ball and I sweated doing even the smallest of exercise.
My wife had recently given birth to our daughter, she was concerned. One day she asked me a stark question; “Do you want to see your daughter grow up?” It was harsh but true, I was a heart attack waiting to happen. The penny dropped one Saturday evening when I was sat watching a movie stuffing my face with a huge burger and fries. Half way through, I thought; “that’s it, I’m tired of looking and feeling like shit, I need to change.” That night I decided to change my life.
I wasn't sure where to start, I had so many bad habits that were so deeply ingrained it felt impossible. I was fat, so running was hard, but if I didn’t run I would stay unfit. I couldn’t walk up the stairs without catching my breath. My wife told me to download Couch to 5K, an app for the iPhone. Day one I had to walk 1K. Next time I had to walk half of it and run the rest. This went on for some time, but as the days and weeks passed, I found I was now running an entire 1K. I think the entire plan lasted about 2 months and by the end I was running 5K.
At the same time I was making other minor changes. For example, when I went to the store I would park at the furthest point from the store as possible and walked the rest of the way. I’d eat an apple instead of a Mars Bar, drink water instead of sugary drinks. Over 2 years I lost 5 stone and was now running about 15K per week, eating better and sleeping about 8 hours a night. When people saw what I had done they asked what one thing did it. My answer has always been the same, it wasn't one thing, it was thousands of tiny things, all of them making incremental gains, just like a bank account earning 1% interest over time it grows into something meaningful.
I still lapse back into bad habits from time to time, but I’ve learnt that if it’s small habits that I’m trying to keep going, that’s far more possible, even on my bad days.
You Can Do It
Some reading this article are going to be thinking, I wish I could do this. You can if you start small and create regular good habits. Don’t be a victim of a studio lifestyle, it’s simply not worth it.