Not that I’m the final authority on this – this post is as much for me as it is for anyone else who reads it – but I have spent my fair share of hours searching for balance: finding it, losing it, and then searching for it again. In my experience, the pursuit of this never really ends. As conditions are always changing around us, we must constantly find ways to adapt and be flexible – especially those of us who run our own creative businesses. We will have slow weeks and busy weeks, slow months and busy ones. The tricky part is learning to ride the wave, knowing you’ll be up again at some point and enjoy the work when you have it without getting overwhelmed because there’s so much to do.
As a yoga therapist, I practice and teach this balance through physicality. Keeping our bodies balanced is key to balancing our emotions, anxieties, fears, and other factors that easily get out of whack. Of course, I know that yoga isn’t for everyone, so I won’t turn this into a “must become spiritual guru to thrive” post, don’t worry. But, in my nearly two
decades of practice, I’ve found three key elements that can translate easily to most lifestyles and are especially helpful for those of us working as creative professionals.
Move
Find time each day to move. It doesn’t have to be the same movement each day or even at the same time, just get up from your desk chair, out of the booth, and get your body moving. This can be a daily stretching warm-up before you record, it can be a brisk morning or evening walk, a 20-minute yoga YouTube video, or a routine of your own making that you do religiously each morning at 6am. Our bodies were not made to sit behind screens answering emails all day, so give yourself the gift of movement.
Breathe
Some may call this step “meditation”, but I prefer to assign it the broader term of “breathing”. This is particularly important for voice-over artists as breath is the foundation of our performance and career.
Spend at least five minutes each day concentrating on your breath. It’s preferable to close your eyes so you can concentrate fully, but if this doesn’t work for you then don’t stress. Simply notice the movement of your chest and belly as you inhale and exhale slowly and intentionally. This slows down your heart rate, soothes your nervous system, and puts you in touch with your body – all key to long-term success in a creative field.
Celebrate
Celebrate wins, big and small. Whether that’s with a special coffee order the day you book your first gig or a trip to Mexico at the end of a long year, you deserve to celebrate your
accomplishments. Find ways to celebrate daily, or at least weekly, this exciting creative journey you’re taking. Add extra whipped cream to that mocha, get yourself a maccaron on the way
home from a session, watch one more episode of your favorite show before bed, sleep in an extra half-hour. Celebrate the freedom you have in your creative career instead of punishing
yourself for not working hard enough or not hustling like you “should”.
Do you need to hustle? Yes, of course. You’ve got to send in auditions, build relationships, invoice clients and get things done. BUT, we have a tendency to be all gas and no brakes when it comes to our careers. It’s the journey y’all, not the destination. Enjoy the ride, reward yourself, be kind to yourself, and celebrate your wins along the way.
Finally…
Along with these three practices, continue to remind yourself that you are more than your profession. You’re a whole person outside of your job. What we do is just a smidge of who we are. You’re valuable all on your own!
It’s also key to keep in mind that this career is a long one. It will span years and decades, not just the next few weeks. To thrive long-term, it’s imperative that we balance our hustle with key wellness elements that ensure we won’t burnout quickly or give up when we hit a rough patch.
Caroline Cole is a writer, voice-over artist, yogi and coach. Learn more at her website or follow her on social media @carolinecolestories on IG and @ccolestories on Twitter.
