The Healthy Actor
Being an actor can be very hard on your health. And like all busy people, it can be difficult to manage your lifestyle in a way that’s beneficial to your health. It’s too easy in our modern lifestyle to exercise less, eat a diet that’s high in unnecessary carbohydrate, and begin to let stress and a more sedentary lifestyle affect your mental health.
You are your own tool of the trade. So, you are responsible for the healthy upkeep of that tool. This means placing mental and physical well being as a priority for you.
When we get busy, the first thing that suffers is our health. We sleep less, we eat more, or more of the things we shouldn’t, we drink more alcohol and smoke more to relieve the stress.
MOVE: The first thing the healthy actor does is some kind of exercise. I didn’t say ‘the gym’ but it would help. Physical movement promotes a healthy mind, regulates stress, releases endorphins, makes you feel a lot better and gives you more energy. Yoga is great, pilates for core strength, cardio for general well being and fitness. Exercise is usually the first to go in a busy schedule, but it’s the one that will help you cope the most with your busy lifestyle. Factor it in, 20 minutes per day if you can, three times per week if you can’t.
DRINK/EAT: But seriously, eat the right thing. Some people’s body can deal with high sugars and some can’t. But no one’s body burns sugar efficiently. Eat proteins and leafy greens, low GI foods like blueberries and brown rice will give you slow release energy throughout the day. Bananas are great for combatting stress.
Soft drinks are empty calories, drink your calories and consider them wasted. Drink
SLEEP: The next thing is that they ring fence a period of sleep. The actor will tell you they don’t have time for sleep, but the truth is that the brain goes into attack mode without sleep and although you think you’re getting sh*t done, you’re actually impairing your abilities. So, yes you are getting stuff done, just not very well, and worse and worse over time. I went 4 days without sleep once. Take it from me, don’t do it.
COGITATE: Find puzzles and games that stimulate your mind. There’s plenty of brain training products out there, but I suggest something like Luminosity. They’re fantastic. Improve your memory and stay sharp, it’s not just for the old folks, we could all do with being a little sharper.
Stay in shape and enjoy the benefits of healthy physical and mental well being.
To You, the Best
COACH