Festivals are a great place to express yourself, let loose and have some fun. For a newbie raver, a festival can definitely be overwhelming and even for a seasoned raver, festivals can definitely get over stimulating. It is so important to practice mindfulness, even at a festival, so here are some tips on how to do so, so you can bring your best energy to the festival.
Start Festival Day Off Mindfully
Many ravers get the pre-festival anxiety, especially when heading into a big event for the first time, or in a new city, or even for a festival that isn’t new. To combat these jitters, it’s so important to start your day off with some peace and meditation.
Find a quiet spot and space and close your eyes, take deep breaths, stretch a little, and even do some quick yoga. Doing this will help relax your body and start your day off in a positive mindset, before all the fun begins.
Set Intentions and Affirmations
Writing down intentions and affirmations is a great way to give yourself some goals and direction on how you want to tackle the day and the festival. Even if it means jotting down notes in your notes app on your phone, taking the time to think about what you want to achieve is a great way to set your mind on track for the rest of the day and night.
Think about what you hope to gain from the festival, such as meeting new ravers, or checking out new sets and DJs. Being intentional is a great way to ease yourself into the festival, as well as giving yourself goals if you want to step outside your comfort zone.
Be Present and Live in the Moment
Heading into a festival can be a lot of different feelings and senses. Take the moment to enjoy the experience in real time and take in all the different sights of the festival, the people, the stages and art installations, and the energy.
It’s hard to capture these moments on phones and videos so being present and enjoying even small memories are the best way to connect your mind with positive memories and people.
When you’re catching fire sets, put away your phone and camera and take in the music from your senses! There’s no better way to experience the festival than to live in the moment and enjoy the time with the presence of other ravers.
Explore The Art and Installations at the Festival
Many festivals put a lot of effort into getting talented artists to decorate and design a lot of the different parts of the festivals. You can find so many art installations at festivals and even spots that welcome you to relax but also to interact with.
Take some time away from the sets to experience other parts of the festivals. Connecting with art is a great way to practice mindfulness and also be reflective. You never know what you might discover beyond the music!
Take Breaks
Being in a crowd especially in the heat can be overwhelming not only for your body, but also for your mind. Make sure to take breaks with your crew, even if it means just stepping out and sitting down for a bit.
With so many people and especially if the environment is new to you, understanding when to take breaks is super helpful for making sure that everyone is safe and comfortable; plus, wandering around from stage to stage is always fun and you’ll make memories no matter where you are at a festival.
Take Care of Your Body and Health
In order to practice mindfulness, you need to make sure to fuel your body! Before heading into the festival, make sure that you’re providing your body with nutritious meals and snacks, such as fruits and protein. Make sure that you’re also hydrating throughout the festival and even before and after; electrolytes like Liquid IV and
Gatorade are the perfect option to make sure your body is getting all the hydration you need beforehand and after! Fueling your body with nutritious sources will make sure that you have the energy you need to keep yourself going all day and night. Even when inside the festival, there are plenty of food and drink options, and almost always free water refill stations, so make sure you make a stop at these places when inside the festival!
Bring Accessories to Help With Mindfulness
There are plenty of items that you can bring with you to help ease your mind and body. One item that I find super useful is earplugs. If you get good quality reusable artists’ earplugs, you’ll be able to block out loud noises without dampening the sounds of the music.
Earplugs are a great way to practice mindfulness and relax your senses, especially since loud music for long periods of time can be super overstimulating! A big hand fan is also super nice to have and a great way to cool off in a big crowd. Another item that is super great are sunglasses or shades; like with earplugs, sunglasses can help block out the sun or super bright lights, even at night. Festivals come with great production, but sometimes the blinding lights or strobe effects can be a lot on your eyes and mind.
Another rave essential is a pashmina: pashes are great for bundling up when it’s cold or if you’re feeling anxious. They are also super nice to have on the ground so you can lay down when you’re taking breaks.
Reflect on Your Day and Experiences
Everyone’s rave experience is super different, from the sets that you see, to the people that you meet. It’s great to take time at the end of the day to reflect on what you’ve experienced throughout the day, either alone or with your rave fam. You can highlight some of your best memories, funny moments that you’ve experienced, new people that you met, new music that you heard, and so much more.
Was there something different that you would’ve liked to have done or seen? Reflecting on your day can allow you to make changes for the next day or next festival and being meaningful in your reflections will set your mind up for positivity and overall, help guide you to make the next festival experience even better!
