Student Blog: Burning the Wick at Both Ends

We are coming down to the crunch time of the semester and things are starting to pile up. I am currently knee-deep in rehearsals for Firebringer the musical at my school. Rehearsals are going super well, we are already up to straight run throughs which is incredible. I'm also just finished being the stage manager for a workshop production of Heard it From a Birdie: the tweet inspired musical that happened this past weekend. On top of that, I'm already starting some of my summer projects-more details of those to come soon. Finals are also fast approaching. Things are accelerating at rapid speed and it doesn't seem to be slowing down soon.

To be 100% honest, I'm feeling the effects of burnout. There are days where I just want everything to slow down and I just want one day with nothing going on. Especially since the weather is starting to get nicer. Being stuck in a dark theater all day can be a little draining. There is a song in Heard it From a Birdie that is called Running Out and its about always feeling like you are running around and not having time to catch your breath and I've never related to something more. There are times when I wonder if I said yes to more things than I should have, or if I'm doing too much. But every time I think about what commitment I could have taken away or what I could have done differently, I don't want to change anything. I love being busy. I love having things to do and places to be. Can it be tiring and chaotic at times? Of course it can. But I love everything that I'm doing and I don't want to stop. So, what I can do is incorporate things to prevent burn out. As you all probably have picked up on, I'm a big list girlie, so here is yet another list for you all. These are some things that I do to prevent burnout.

Remember why I'm doing all the things in the first place

Sometimes just taking a step back and remembering why I am doing what I am doing in the first place helps greatly. I'm currently working on a few shows, one musical and a few shorter one-acts, and sometimes it can feel like so much-but I love every project that I am involved in. Over the past few months, I have been stage manager, assistant director, actor, and playwright. The only reason I am doing those things is because I love all of those things and I have been passionate about each show I've worked on. I love seeing it all come together in the end. I like being a part of the process and I have loved getting to work with so many wonderful people. So, occasionally stepping back, and remembering why I'm here, why I am doing all the things, and why I love it, helps me to appreciate my journey more and to have a better mindset going into rehearsals, shows, etc.

I get to do all the things.

I'm a big list person-we know this-so at the beginning of every week I make a big to-do list of things I need to do for the week. I can often fall into this rhythm of "oh I have to send out these emails, I have to ask about this, I have to do this, I have to do that, etc." But that's the thing, I don't have to do those things, I get to do all of those things. They all aren't always fun things, but I get to do those things. I get to practice my songs for my voice juries. I get to memorize my lines for a directing scene. I get to schedule rehearsals for a play that I wrote. I am so so blessed that I get to do those things and that I get to go to school for musical theater. When I was a kid, I couldn't wait to be going to school for Theatre. I couldn't wait to be able to focus on what I really wanted to do with my life and starting my career. If little Grace could see me now, she'd be so ecstatic for me. Rephrasing my to-do list and doing everything for younger grace, who would not have even fathomed she'd be where she is, helps me not to focus on the negative and slip into a place of burnout.

Rest

I've said this once, I'll say it again: taking time for yourself at the end of the day to relax and unwind. When I get home from rehearsal, I try not to do any work unless I absolutely have to. I try and relax, hang out with my friends, and de-stress. This is a big component of fighting burn out and keeping your mental health in a good place. Another phrase one of my friends told me this week while I was in the midst of getting ready for a show happening that weekend, was "it's okay to have time to just be Grace'' and I found that very eye-opening and helpful. Because I deserve time to just be Grace. Not stage manager Grace, or Assistant Director Grace, but just Grace. So please, take time to just be you and do things that you enjoy.

It's not that serious

"And you know what it never was? That serious. It was never that serious." That simple little phrase has been our motto for Heard it From a Birdie. Because at the end of the day, it never really was that serious. Theater isn't heart surgery. If we mess up or something goes wrong-it is okay. We were doing check-ins before one of our Firebringer Rehearsals, and we were all very overwhelmed and something our director told us was that this is the time to do everything you can. College is the time to experiment and try all the things. Write a play. Direct a show. Be a stage manager-do everything you can. Soak up as much as you can. Because at the end of the day, it isn't that serious and if you have done everything you can, you will know what you like and what you don't. I found that really helpful. Of course, only take on what you can handle and do what you need to do to take care of yourself. But now is the time to do all the things. Do everything you want to do with your college career. And it is okay to feel what you are feeling, and sometimes it is that serious. But sometimes just stepping back, taking a breath, and looking at the grand scheme of things is very helpful.

These are just a few of the things that help me, especially during this time of the year. Lately, I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off-but I really do love it. I'm having a lot of fun. Some days are very chaotic and rough, but I like that I'm making my college career my own. One of our professors all the time tells us to make our own breaks and I'm trying to do that. So, find the joy in your classes, your shows, your journey. Make your own breaks. And go do great things!

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