Masking Burnout During the Holidays: 5 Tips to Make it Through
By Brianna Titus-Gilliam
Onstage or off, the holiday season can make joy feel like a nonnegotiable. It’s a time of year where audiences, friends, and family expect constant smiles, causing burnout for people who are emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted from the heaviness of the year.
Here are five simple tips to preserve mental energy and space.
1. Measure the energy you give away for free
Performers spend so much time being “on” that it’s easy to overlook how much energy is leaking out between rehearsals, shows, and social events. Are you surrounding yourself with people or activities that require more energy than you’re currently able to give?
Think about how you can change that. Take a class or do an activity where you get to follow. That could be a cooking class, picking up a new hobby like crocheting, or signing up for a class at the gym. Simple, stress-free tasks help your nervous system reset.
2. Turn off the record player
Negative thoughts become louder and more powerful the more you think about them. Imagine someone walks
into a room and starts insulting you. What happens if you answer them back? What happens when you ignore them?
If you want the negative thoughts to have less power over you, stop answering. Ignore them and they will eventually leave the room. This doesn’t mean the thoughts won’t try to get a sneak peek every now and again, but they won’t stay around if you train yourself to shut them down.
3. Give yourself grace
Yes, you chose the entertainment business as a profession— but you are human first. Don’t feel embarrassed or guilty that the weight of the holiday season means you’re not yourself. This is a rough time of year for most people with factors such as weather, increased expenses, heavier workload and an increase in social obligations affecting mood. You’re allowed to have limits.
4. Take time for yourself
Often, we tell ourselves to push through when things are difficult. Yet, that way of thinking can lead to mental and physical health issues. Instead of pushing through, recognize when you need some time off. That could look like cleaning your house, binge-watching bad TV, or going out for a run. Think about what fills your cup— what makes you feel complete after a long day— and do that.
5. Gather with people who fill your cup
After a string of rehearsals or performances, isolation can feel tempting. Solitude is helpful in small doses, but it’s important not to get lost in the isolation blues. Let your social circle know you’re going for a mellow holiday season.
Ask them if they’d be up for doing low-energy activities: going for a walk, watching a movie, or even reading a book together! You can still feel connected by doing low-maintenance activities.
The goal isn't to make it through the holiday seasons— it’s to enjoy them in a way that preserves your peace.
