Nigerian Music: 10 signs to show when an artiste should slow down

Once you see these signs, take a break and go on a break. Relax, loose the stress, gain some perspective, become human again, experience the moments and be yourself.

Wizkid (instagram)

The music business is an unforgiving industry that relies on many people selling their sounds, ideas, and most especially their body for money. Away from all the blings, parties, back hugs,

social media shout outs and lots more, what happens behind the scenes is ruthless and demands workaholics.

This has caused many artistes to experience burn out, or severe cases of value erosion. Many acts lose themselves in the job, so much that one day, they look in the mirror and see a shadow of themselves. Sometimes, they never get to the mirror. Their body crashes, their life unravels, or they go into full blown existential crises.

Bad Belle was the first song M.I featured Moti Cakes on.

However when you see these signs below, it is time to take a break.

Revision of values: Your perceptions changes, such that he/she dismisses family and friends.

The compulsion to prove oneself: This involves an obsessive demonstration of worth and tends to affect highly enthusiastic people who readily accept responsibility.

Working harder: An inability to switch off.

Neglecting one's needs: Erratic sleep, disruptive eating pattern, lack of social interaction.

Displacement of conflicts: One dismisses problems, feels threatened, panicky and jittery.

Withdrawal: Little of inexistent social life, a need to feel relief from stress, which can lead to taking alcohol and drugs.

Depersonalization: Seeing neither self nor others valuable, and no longer perceiving one's own needs.

Depression: Feeling lost and unsure, exhausted and future seems bleak.

Burnout syndrome: Can include total mental and physical collapse, which calls for medical attention.

Once you see these signs, take a break and go on a break. Relax, loose the stress, gain some perspective, become human again, experience the moments and be yourself. Connect to your core, and become enthused.

Then come back, and blow shit up.