Lately I've been thinking a lot about an upcoming break. Since rehearsals for The Lark started in November of 2013, I've been going pretty non-stop from one project to the next (often overlapping projects) and I'm feeling the tug of burnout. I see it in my approach to rehearsals for All's Well That Ends Well and in my energy levels at the end of a weekend of performances of Titus Andronicus (another example of overlap!). As I'm thinking about my upcoming break, I'm trying to plan what it will look like - first, the fun stuff: seeing shows, going to the beach, hanging out with friends, visiting my nieces, maybe a trip to Colorado. Then, it'll be time to reinvest in the career, without jumping back in to overload - reading plays, working monologues, doing my vocal work, setting up a system of tracking for my taxes (something I 'plan' to do EVERY year at this time!). Of course, I'll still be working the money job, but working one job instead of 2 will seem like quite the relief, I'm sure.
So what have I been doing 'for my career' lately? Monday was an evening off (the first in a while) and I read through about 5 scripts for the Babes' Joining Sword & Pen playwriting competition. Tuesday was another night off and I planned to do my taxes...instead I was offered a comp to see Strawdog's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and had dinner before hand with the lovely Morgan Manasa & Mr. Beckman. Wednesday was rehearsal for All's Well (but I was called later in the evening, so I ripped through another script for JS&P!). Tonight, we're back in Rome for a Pay What You Can Thursday performance of Titus Andronicus.
All in all, pretty intentional and on point, right? Honestly, though, I think what I really did 'for my career' this week was to go grocery shopping. I hadn't done that since before tech week of Titus (I'm talking February 23rd here!) and it was becoming an issue. Sure I was eating - the wonderful cafe near the theatre, Zanzibar, is a favorite of mine & has received much of my business over the last few weeks! I stopped at Little Caesar's after a voice lesson for their deep dish lunch special. Chipotle after a work meeting became lunch & dinner. And then the random, improvised home meals: pasta/olive oil/garlic salt & English muffin garlic bread...apples & peanut butter...A grapefruit & handful of Cheez-Its...Just enough sustenance to maintain energy. But I didn't cook anything, really.
Yesterday, I got out a couple of recipe books, picked an old favorite and a 'something new' to try, then headed to the grocery store. Sloppy Joes are in the crock pot and I have everything I need for Spinach Artichoke Pasta Salad (probably a project for tomorrow). It literally took less than 5 minutes to put everything in the crock pot for Sloppy Joes tonight, but I already feel better about being able to eat something I made - knowing that I took some time to prepare it and take care of myself.
So what I did for my career was take care of 'me'. Without my sanity, my energy, my physical health, my ability to focus... there's not much use in doing all the other millions of things that seem to be required to sustain a career in the arts.
So do something for your career today. See a show. Read a play. Write a blog. Listen to a new band or artist. Take a class. Hit the gym. Record an audition.
Or...
just go outside in the sun and take a walk. Spend a little extra time in the shower letting the day's tension melt away. Explore a part of your neighborhood you've never been to. Go window shopping. People Watch at the local cafe. Make yourself dinner...
When you are your own business, everything gift you give yourself in becoming a better, healthier, happier, more well-rounded person, is also something that will help move you along your chosen career path.
(And if someone could remind me of this in about 4 months when I'm going stir-crazy because I'm not working on 4 projects simultaneously, I'd be most appreciative!)