The stress of being involved in the production of a film or television drama might hurt your mental health. Actors frequently labour late into the night and on the weekends to get everything ready. The pressure to provide your finest performance in every scene can be overwhelming. Furthermore, actors are human, and they too can experience anxiety and worry about how the shot will turn out.
They could not understand the difference between stress and anxiety and might brush off their concerns as being nothing more than normal nerves. In actuality, it may be unrelenting stress that is wreaking havoc on their health.
However, keeping your stress levels steady is essential for maintaining serenity and wellness. You’ll be able to get more done and go forward in the company this way. If you establish a solid reputation for professionalism and dedication, you may be able to acquire your dream job. Here are some of the most effective strategies for dealing with the anxiety and pressure that can arise while filming.
Get Some Good Shut-eye
Be careful to get enough rest in the days coming up to filming. Because of the negative feedback loop between sleep deprivation and stress, both can have detrimental effects. Sleep deprivation and long hours at the office can take their toll.
Maintaining a regular sleep schedule has been shown to have a positive effect on stress levels. Get into bed at around the same time every night, and make sure you’re nice and cosy before turning in. If your phone has a habit of keeping you up late, try cutting down on screen time right before bed.
Communicate
If you are honest and upfront with people, they will do the same with you. If you act as though you have no problems moving forward, people will assume that you do. Acting is a stressful profession, so taking five minutes to collect your thoughts in between takes is perfectly acceptable.
Talk to the director about difficult or emotional scenes. Ten consecutive performances at your peak performance level are impossible. You need to be aware of the times when you will be the centre of attention so that you can save your best efforts for those moments. Don’t be afraid to say something if you feel like you’re being overly ambitious. The very act of disclosing this information may be enough to alleviate your stress, and you’ll receive the necessary help as a result.
Keep Your Diet in Check
If you always feel fatigued or sick, it can have a toll on your mental health. Taking time out of filming to eat healthily could need a bit more work. But it’s just as crucial to maintain a healthy weight and get some exercise whenever you can.
The effects of a diet high in processed foods can be felt within and externally, such as on the skin. Diet and exercise not only affect physical health but also psychological well-being. In addition, regular exercise can stimulate the production of endorphins, which boost mood. The chemicals in your body that are associated with stress and anxiety can be flushed out with the support of a healthy lifestyle.
Set Aside Some Time for Reflection
Mindfulness training might help you relax and unwind. Practise meditation more frequently to learn to sit with your thoughts and emotions without reacting. The benefits and importance of meditation are not immediately obvious to everyone. It may help your brain become less dependent on erratic emotional responses when under pressure. To maintain focus and concentration during filming, meditation is a great tool.
Keep Your “Winging It” to a Minimum
For some reason, it never failed to throw me off when a location had been researched but the lighting hadn’t been properly prepared. I would show up with a tonne of equipment and a rough plan for how the set should be lighted, but I wouldn’t bother drawing out a lighting diagram beforehand. I had to wing it and waste a lot of time moving the light stand around to achieve the desired level of diffusion.
Gaffers on a feature set will experiment with different light levels to find the optimal one. The rest of the production will continue in the background while they work on this together. When you’re on a single shoot and you take two minutes too long to decide which gel you want to put on the lamp, production stops. My performers, who could have been working, were instead lounging around the couch, waiting for me to begin.
When filming an event, it’s likely that you won’t have access to artificial lighting and will have to make do with whatever natural light is present. If it’s a labour of love, you can either light the setting the night before and make adjustments for the actors the next day, or you can make a lighting diagram to get a head start the next morning.
Maintain Your Water Intake
Staying hydrated will help you feel great and reduce your stress levels on set. If you’re too busy to stop and drink water, you might find that you’re more irritable than usual. You’d have no strength, and you might even have a headache. These things might add to your day’s stress and wear you out mentally.
Keep yourself hydrated by bringing a water bottle to use in between takes. Keep your water intake between six and eight glasses every day. Maintaining good habits can help you feel better about yourself, the world, and life in general. If you have a good attitude and do your job right, your coworkers will like working with you, too.
Use Relaxation Aids
There may be no quick or permanent solution to your stress, but there are items available to help you cope with it. You may, for instance, look into top-shelf CBD and THC offerings from various producers. Many people report feeling better at ease after consuming CBD gummies or tinctures. The ability to remain calm under pressure can lead to improved performance in situations where this was previously impossible.
Visit Family and Friends
A respite from the usual stresses of life can be as simple as spending some quality time with loved ones. Constant tension may be a result of your hectic work schedule. If you’re feeling down, it can help to talk to a buddy about what you’re going through. People who have a lot to say to others often find relief in doing so. Take advantage of even a short break from filming to relax and rejuvenate. Maybe what you need is just to shake things up a bit from your regular schedule. It’s a great way to unwind and forget about the stresses of life so you can fully appreciate the moment.
