Living in the unprecedented times that we currently do, the pandemic has forced many people to put their careers and professions on hold, in particular the Musical Theatre industry; a high intensity, hard working and extremely physical job.
For me and many other fellow performers it has been a matter of making sure our mental well-being and physical health has been looked after in preparation for theatres to return again so we can go back to pursuing our career just like many others will have had to do in other professions, such as personal training or other sporting careers.
Key motivators for your profession that can be specific to YOU…
As hard as staying motivated is during these times where motivation has to be driven by yourself and nobody else, there are many ways to keep positive and stay motivated for when your profession returns such as:
- Setting realistic physical achievements that will enhance and improve your performance when you return to work such as walking 5000 steps per day or joining in a live workout three times a week to build up stamina again.
- Make the physical exercise you are doing specific to YOU and your profession. As an example on a long walk I would listen to music from the musical I am going to be working in next to motivate me and help me enjoy the physical exercise more. Make. It. Suit. You.
- Make a story board or a mood board with pictures of all of the things you would like to achieve or things that inspire you that you can set as your Lock Screen on your phone to remind you daily of where you would eventually like to be in your career.
Here is an example of mine…
An interview with Musical Theatre professionals…
Here is a clip of fellow Musical Theatre performers Alex Steele, Maddison Rowe and Esme Bacalla-Hayes answering some of my questions on how they are staying mentally and physically healthy in preparation for when the industry reopens again. Including advice and insightful information as to how and what YOU could do to improve mental well being, motivation and physical performance in preparation for YOUR profession…
An overview of general tips the girls suggested that help with mental health that everyone can benefit from…
- Make a to do list for the day ahead and check things off as and when you do things, great for peace of mind and to relieve stress.
- Make your bed and tidy your room, as silly as it sounds it really does make you feel a whole lot better.
- Try to keep yourself in a routine throughout the day, it keeps the mind occupied and focused.
- Most importantly, KEEP GOING, YOU’VE GOT THIS. A positive mental attitude is key.
Physical exercise and its effects on your mental well-being…
It becomes very apparent after talking with three professionals that are awaiting their career to restart that physical exercise can have a huge impact on not just your physical health but your mental well-being and motivation too which are both huge factors to keep in mind during the current circumstances where mental well-being and motivation can be affected the most.
Things physical exercise can help with in particular are:
- Positivity.
- Feeling more alert and energised.
- Relieving stress.
- Sleeping better.
- Increase in self confidence.
So here are some tips on how to specifically stay PHYSICALLY prepared for your profession…
At home workouts!
At home workouts are a great way to start getting physically prepared for your career again. It is something you can do at your own pace within the comfort of your own home, without feeling like you have to keep up with anyone else. It is also a FREE and easy way to keep active without needing much equipment.
Setting 3 workouts per week on specific days would be a great place to start to enable your body and mind to adapt to the changes that are being made in regards to physical exercise, when you feel ready you can build the quantity of workouts OR how long you workout for.
‘Short on time? Hate the gym? Too tired to exercise after work? 10 minute workouts are just what you need.’ NHS.uk.
If you’re struggling to find the right ones for you here are some of the workouts I like to use for some inspiration…
- Gabby Allen workouts.
- Courtney Black workouts.
- Joe Wicks workouts.
These are all FREE and available on either YouTube, Instagram or Facebook so go and have a try!
A simple walk can work wonders!
’Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier’ NHS.uk.
Walking is one of the most underrated forms of exercise yet it is so beneficial for both the mind and body. Taking a long walk can be just as beneficial as a short workout in regards to burning calories. A great way to track how far you have walked and how many calories you have burned is buy using the ‘Fitness’ App on either your phone or Apple Watch if you have access to one.
Here is an example of a walk I went on and just LOOK at how many calories I burned… from a walk!
REMINDER!
However with this all being said this is just a reminder to everyone that it is very much OKAY to have days where you don’t feel motivated or don’t feel like you want to workout and be your most productive self. It is OKAY to feel anxious or stressed about the future and how your profession will be affected by this pandemic. It is OKAY to rest and take a day to look after your mental health in other, more comforting ways. Do you know why? Because we are human and each day is never the same for many reasons. The most important thing is that we have the tools and knowledge to come back from these more trying and difficult days, knowing that the simple walk or workout may make you feel that little bit better…
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/