15 minutes a day keeps the Quit Monster at bay

I remember when I was a young lad learning the craft of trumpet playing, I came across a quote from someone who isn’t well-known today but I guess had some sort of influence in his era, i.e. the 1960’s.

I don’t remember the quote verbatim, but essentially it said, “Missing a day of practice is like committing suicide as a player.” Again, I’m 100% sure that’s not exactly what he said, but that’s the gist of it.

I’ve often thought about that quote through the many phases of my trumpet playing career, and while it’s a stretch to say you’re killing yourself to miss a day of practice, it absolutely has an effect on the mindset when it does happen.

During my time in the Army, circa 2008-15, trumpet was my main gig. I played all the time for commitments for the military, and had several side projects going on. So I was always playing. So to not take a day of rest here and there would have done more harm than good. But there was always an intention to it. I was intentionally not playing my horn so that I would be able to play well the next day, and hopefully years into the future.

Now that trumpet is no longer my main gig, it’s far more common to miss a day of playing. And it’s interesting how missing a day because I’m busy with business or family commitments – all of which are justifiable – affects the mindset.

“Well, I missed a day. I’ll probably miss tomorrow too, and the next day, and the next…”

Soon enough I’ve missed 5 days consecutively. Or maybe took 15 minutes here or there to doodle a little bit, but it’s far from intentional. I’ll pick it up to do some serious playing and my lips feel like raw meat after about 10 minutes.

I share this because there’s a lot of truth to what that fellow said back in the day. Maybe he wasn’t referring to affecting the ability to play when you miss a day. Perhaps it’s the loss of intention and purpose when you allow yourself to miss a day.

It’s one of those things where you don’t have time to do something; you make time to do it.

I was feeling similar emotions this morning as I’ve missed a couple of days writing my email. I’ve found that if it doesn’t get done first thing in the morning, it just doesn’t get done. Some people will batch their emails, writing 7 in one sitting then scheduling them out for the week. That’s all well and good, but if I don’t write every day, the day feels like it’s awash.

Same mindset creeps in when I miss a day. “Well, you missed one, you’re probably going to miss today too. You may as well just throw in the towel.”

That defeatist attitude is ever at the ready, waiting for any opportunity to move in and pounce.

“15 minutes a day, keeps the quit monster at bay.”

I’m going to make a sign with that mantra and sell it.

Shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes.