Some weeks fill up quickly.
A gig to play. Another one to prepare for. Piano practice. Bookkeeping.
Left on its own, a week like that can feel draining.
That’s usually when I pull out a simple page I call the SoulFed 5.
It’s nothing complicated. Just a way to make sure the week isn’t only work.
Because between music, gigs, and the day job, the life around the music can disappear pretty quickly.
If you’d rather watch, here’s the full video.
The SoulFed 5
The idea is simple.
Each week I try to leave space for five things that feed a creative life.
Create
Connect
Nest
Reflect
Explore
Lately I’ve added two more.
Something to look forward to.
Something that stretches me.
It’s not about doing all of them perfectly. It’s just a gentle way to make sure the week has some balance.
This Week’s Version
The stretch this week is easy.
I have a gig on Thursday. It’s one of the most creative gigs I do. The piano player, Sheldon, is the wild card. He can take a song somewhere completely unexpected, which means I have to stay on my toes the whole time.
It keeps me listening.
And honestly, it’s a blast.
Something to look forward to comes later in the week.
I’m meeting a new friend for lunch and we’re taking an alcohol ink painting class. I chose it deliberately because I wanted something creative in the week that has nothing to do with music.
I have no idea if I’ll be good at it.
But that’s part of the fun.
Connection shows up in a few ways this week. Lunch with a new friend. Hopefully a FaceTime call with my daughter too.
For explore, if I stay overnight in Calgary after the gig, I may try a new trail before heading home. I like seeing places from the ground instead of just the highway.
Nest is simple this week. A few flowers for the table. Nothing fancy. Just a little colour to brighten the room.
Reflect will likely be a bath night. Hot water. A book. The coldest night of the week usually decides when that happens.
In between all of that are the usual things.
Writing blocks. Vocal exercises. Practicing the piano. Preparing for the next show.
A Week That Feeds the Soul
So this week includes a gig that stretches me, an art class I’m curious about, lunch with a new friend, a call with my daughter, maybe a trail walk, a few flowers for the table, and definitely a bath.
Not a bad week to move through.
Get the SoulFed 5 Sheet
If you’re curious about the SoulFed 5 page I mentioned in the video, you can download a copy here.
[link]
It’s the same simple page I use each week to make sure the life around the music still has a place.