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As theatre artists and arts workers, we are often put into stressful situations and expected to “make it work” with very little money and not a lot of hourly compensation. So how do you manage stress at work?
No matter how often you remind yourself that we aren’t saving lives, just making art, we all have moments where the stress can get to us. Sometimes being told over and over again to “make it work” can cause us to lose our minds a little.
I was told by a production manager once that she loved having me around because I had a calming effect on almost everyone there, and honestly I took that as the HIGHEST compliment.
So here are my top 5 tips on how to manage stress at work:
My husband and I have this habit of calling each other to talk about our jobs when we are on our way home, and it works REALLY well. It makes it so that we stay in the loop and have each other to lean on without making our home a constant venting session. The advice of keeping work at work and home at home is easier said than done since sometimes we need to offload after hours, since we are too busy, well, doing the work when we are work! So this solution is extremely helpful and usually by the time we are home, we can talk about other things. Win-win.
If you work in a highly collaborative environment, where you are engaging with people all day long, make sure to take at least one of your breaks by yourself. We can be the most people-who-need-people person on the PLANET, but sometimes we need to decompress and turn off. Walk to your car and watch a show on your phone. Go buy yourself a slice of pizza. Bring a book to work and put headphones in to make it EXTRA clear that you don’t want anyone to talk to you on your break. There are times when yeah, we want to get dinner between shows with coworkers, and other times where we just need space. Both are totally OK.
And be OK with saying it out loud! Not every problem demands an immediate solution where you have to drop everything. Some do. But most do not. The actors have been practicing for WEEKS without props– if it breaks during tech week, they can go one more day without having it. The show will go on. You cannot make everything magically come out of your ass, no matter how much the higher ups believe it to be so. The sooner you are comfortable with saying, “We will get to work on that and figure it out,” and adding it to a list, and when someone asks, you shout, “it’s on the list!” the less stressed you will be.
I can’t take credit for this one. I received this in a previous job training. But it is FANTASTIC. The rule is, if something on your list can be done in 3 minutes or less, DO IT NOW. Without even thinking about it. Because nothing eases stress more than being able to cross something off a list. Nothing.
This one might seem like a no brainer, but even doing a ten minute workout in the morning before you leave can help get you motivated for the day. If you can physically accomplish something, it trains your brain to be able to mentally accomplish tasks that seem impossible. That is why so many former athletes become brilliant businesspeople, according to an Ernst & Young study. It may seem daunting when you work a job where you are on your feet all the time and feel physically exhausted, but remember that that exhaustion is a culmination of multiple factors, not the standing alone. According to the mayo clinic, exercising on a regular basis will increase your focus and energy levels, improve your mood, and also help you sleep better, which in turn makes you more refreshed and less stressed at work.
If you’re doing those things, give yourself a pat on the back!
Having a lifestyle that you are working toward as a career goal can also help with overall stress. Do you want to work for a company where you can take time off? Do you want a salaried position? Do you want to supplement your theatre income with a side hustle or business and sell it to retire? Putting in the work and the hours and the blood, sweat, tears and stress is EASIER when you can envision a future when your personal goals and career goals will be in sync. As theatre workers, we deserve to not have our careers dictate our entire lives. And that can be a difficult pill to swallow since we pour everything into what we do and who we are and often make it our entire identity.
So I will leave you with this challenge: think of 3 things you want out of LIFE that aren’t related to your career and see if you are able to accomplish those things under the parameters of your current career goals. And if you aren’t? Dream up new goals where you can truly HAVE IT ALL because that is what you deserve with everything you give to the world.
Oh, and make sure to drink water everyday. 😊
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Stage Managers: How To Deal With Stress
Rachel Stiles is a union member, makeup/wig artist, dresser, and industry/career coach residing between Milwaukee and Chicago. She is passionate about creating a sustainable future for theatre careers and helping people navigate the industry for success. She recently launched Stage Creatives Network, a community networking site for theatre makers to meet each other and engage with one another in a safe, no stress atmosphere OUTSIDE of work.
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