WHY EUSTRESSIN'?: ROBERT OWOYELE
HEY ROBERT, WHY EUSTRESSIN’?
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING/ HOW LONG?
Program Analyst & Contracting Officer Representative by day for 7 years and DJ by night for 9.
DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IN YOUR PROFESSION?
I think about my mental health in my 9 to 5 because it isn't something I particularly enjoy. There are days where I struggle with my happiness in my job because it doesn't align with the things that I am passionate about. Some days are good and I can be productive, but some days are dreadful. The joy DJing brings me helps balance things out. However, DJ can also come with mental challenges of constantly feeling overwhelmed and the mental strain that can come from comparing yourself to others.
WHAT UNIQUE CHALLENGES DO YOU ENCOUNTER SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR JOB THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH THAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT?
The unique challenges from working as DJ that others may not know about that has an impact on my mental health is the constant need to keep up with music & not letting the success of others to make you feel less than. In the day and age that we live in, we are bombarded with new music every single day. Trying to keep up with all of the music that comes out it mentally draining and overwhelming. There is added pressure from event organizers, promoters, etc. to keep up with the latest music. Its particularly difficult because music used to be a tool used to get away from things that impacted me mentally. Working as a DJ has turned something that used to be a tool into a job. It's hard to listen to music sometimes because it feels like work at times. Also, its hard not to compare yourself to other working DJs as it is a competitive field. It's important to look at these people as motivation/inspiration. However, when you see people getting opportunities that may not be coming your way, it is easy to be hard on yourself. It's almost as if you are doing something wrong or not doing enough. It can weigh heavily on you.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THAT YOU SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WHEN TAKING ON DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES?
I realized that I should consider my mental health when the things that I used to enjoy about both my job and DJing are now things that I hate. When I felt like I was chasing the joys they used to bring me is when I realized they both could be impacting my mental health.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE THOSE STRESSORS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?
It's a conscious decision that I have to make every day. I choose to focus on the positives of every situation. I'm not as hard on myself and constantly remind myself that I am on my own journey that was carved out for me. Comparisons do me no good because this journey was made for me and me only. I also set aside times during the day to take care of particular tasks that I sometimes feel overwhelmed with. I found that doing that task every day for 30 minutes was more beneficial than setting aside 2 or 3 hours once a week. It helped manage my workload to not feel as overwhelmed.
HOW DOES BEING MENTALLY HEALTHY HELP IN YOUR FIELD OF WORK OR ON THE JOB?
Being mentally healthy can help when the days get long. I have been fortunate to stay busy as a working DJ. However, that comes with late nights, back to back gigs for consecutive days in a row. A lot of people, including myself focus on staying physically healthy but neglect the mental. I need both because DJing requires a lot both mentally and physically. Being mentally healthy helps in the entire DJing process from being able to think quickly to being as creative as possible.
WHAT DOES EUSTRESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU AT WORK? AT HOME/AWAY FROM WORK?
Good Stress to me is the right amount of pressure that pushes me to do better both at work and at home. It's stress that ultimately leads me to be a better DJ, better boyfriend, better son, etc. If the stress leads to healthy growth, to me it is good stress because I have benefited from it.
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD TELL SOMEONE JUST STARTING IN YOUR PROFESSION OR A YOUNG PERSON WHO ASPIRES TO BE THE PROFESSIONAL THAT YOU ARE?
I would tell them to win each day and to run their own race. What is for you is for you & no one can take that from you. Look at other people for motivation, inspiration, & just focus on being the best version of you every day. I would tell them to take time away from the "work" side of things and work on projects to re-ignite that passion that made you want to jump into DJing from the jump. Mix songs that YOU want to hear without the consumer in mind. Listen to music you genuinely enjoy or discover new music outside of what you play with the intention of just enjoying it for what it is, rather than listening trying to determine if it fits in your set.
ANY OTHER INFORMATION YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU AND WHAT YOU'RE UP TO?
I want people to know that I am seriously considering a career change from the program analyst role to a role in marketing. I have found ways to help manage the stress in DJing but I am still struggling on the other side. I think it's important for us to have a genuine interest and passion for the work that you do. So I have been learning the ins & outs of marketing, specifically digital marketing all while rediscovering my passion for music!
HOW CAN PEOPLE CONTACT YOU FOR MORE INFORMATION?
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