Healthy Regime

Allow yourself the time and space to fully absorb everything you work on during practice.

Avoid revisiting the same material twice in a single day, as this can sometimes lead to frustration—what felt solid in the morning may feel less secure by evening.

Instead, give your mind and body time to rest and integrate. A good night’s sleep often leads to noticeable improvement the next day, making your efforts feel more natural and effortless.

You might consider organizing your practice like this:

• Morning session
• Evening session (focused on different material)

Transform the way you approach your practice by shifting from a mindset of self-judgment or victimhood to one of ownership and self-compassion.

Instead of feeling guilt, frustration, or pressure to meet unrealistic expectations, remind yourself that practice is an opportunity for growth—not a test of your worth.

Everything you do—whether it’s practicing, studying, or working—is a chance to develop and learn. With this attitude, not only will your progress become more consistent, but your experience during practice will feel lighter, calmer, and more encouraging.

Speak to yourself kindly. Celebrate small wins. And when something still doesn’t quite work, acknowledge that you’ve done your best for today—and trust that with time and care, it will come.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a pianist is this: caring for your physical and emotional well-being is just as essential as refining your technique.

Your state of body and mind has a direct impact on your ability to practice consistently, and to approach performances, auditions, or exams with clarity and confidence.

There are times when this balance can be disrupted—leading to stress, instability, or anxiety about important events.

I’m not a medical professional, and what I share here is based solely on personal experience.

If you already have a routine that works well for you, trust it. But if you’ve been searching for something that truly helps and haven’t yet found it, perhaps something here will resonate with you.

Being dependable as a performer means being well enough to show up. Over time, I’ve learned that any virus can often be prevented, or stopped in its earliest stages, with a few simple habits:

• Gargling – Use salt water with a few drops of oregano or artemisia oil to cleanse your throat.
• Hydration – Drink at least 8 cups of water daily. A pinch of salt and a few drops of lemon help maintain electrolyte balance and prevent headaches. Proper hydration supports your immune system by efficiently flushing out viruses.
• Garlic with Meals – Take this powerful antiviral with food to avoid stomach discomfort.
• Steam Inhalation with Essential Oil – One drop of oregano and one drop of artemisia oil in hot water can be incredibly effective. However, be mindful:

• Hold the pot securely to avoid spills.
• Keep your eyes closed to prevent irritation.
• Inhale gently, keeping a safe distance at first.
• After steaming, cover your mouth with a towel and breathe warm air for a few minutes before returning to room temperature air.

This steaming method was life-changing for me. After suffering from COVID and persistent coughing for two months, I tried adding artemisia oil to my steam routine. After just two sessions, my cough and sore throat were gone.

This ritual is not only effective but also incredibly soothing – like a healing sauna for your lungs.

The key to preventing a full-blown cold or flu is acting immediately when the first symptoms appear.

Early signs to watch for:

• Waking up feeling heavy and fatigued
• Loss of normal appetite
• Unusual sensitivity to cold air on your skin
• Feeling cold despite a warm environment
• A slight sore throat (optional)
• Feeling unusually energized the day before

Start your recovery routine right away:

• Gargle with salt water + oregano or artemisia oil.
• Eat 2 cloves of garlic with food to protect your stomach once.

Every Hour:

• Drink 2 cups of water.
• Inhale steam for 3–5 minutes, adding just one drop of oregano oil and/or artemisia oil. Take care with the hot water—keep a comfortable distance as you breathe.

Rest – sleep or relax for at least half a day.

Most of the time, by lunchtime, you’ll wake up feeling fully recovered, with energy and appetite restored.

“Quiet your mind and listen” isn’t just a gentle suggestion—it’s a profound shift in awareness. When our emotional balance is compromised—often due to depleted serotonin levels—the mind begins to spin, searching for solutions, trying to fix what feels broken. But this spiral of overthinking only deepens our disconnection.

The more we turn inward in that state, the more distant the world feels. The path forward isn’t about figuring it all out—it’s about shifting our attention outward. Even when it feels impossible, choosing to engage with life—through listening, observing, and simply being present—can gently begin the healing process.

I came to understand this in my late twenties, after focal dystonia abruptly took away my ability to play. Everyday actions—typing, writing—suddenly became difficult. Everything I had built, every note I’d shaped since childhood, seemed to slip away.

But instead of retreating, I traveled.

I visited sacred spaces, prayed in mosques and churches, sang in gospel choirs, meditated, and connected with people whose presence brought light and kindness.

In time, I stopped obsessing over the diagnosis. My identity began to expand. I was no longer only a pianist—I was a human being, present, giving, listening with my eyes and seeing with my ears, breathing, and feeling in a way I had never done before.

The greatest lesson from that chapter of my life was this: healing begins the moment we shift our focus outward. When we reconnect to the world—through listening, presence, and awareness—we reconnect to ourselves.

Peace cannot be chased or acquired. It doesn’t come from solving or achieving. It isn’t temporary. Peace is constant. It’s what we are.

Our soul, our consciousness, rests in stillness—it’s always here. We only forget it when we disconnect from the world and from our feelings.

But even then, peace is never lost. It remains, like the sun behind the clouds. Our thoughts may pass like weather, obscuring the light—but the sun is always shining. And if darkness falls, perhaps it’s not the sun that is missing, but simply our place on the path. The light returns in time, when we’re ready to receive it again.