The space between bookings can feel endless to an actor. One week you are on set living your dream. The next week or next month, you might end up refreshing your email and wondering if you will ever work as an actor again. This can be an emotional roller coaster or whiplash. But, this is not a personal failing. These are potential, real events that can happen inside of a real actor’s life. This is the reality of an actor’s life. Here are some practical strategies to maintain your mental health during the inevitable quiet periods that come.
Reframe Your “Downtime” as Your Own Personal “Development Time”
The language you use will shape your mind and it will also shape your experience during this time. In your internal dialogue, you could say that you’re not “unemployed,” you are in between projects. You’re not “waiting,” you are gettin and staying prepared for your next project. This does not happen to be toxic positivity. This is accurate positive self help in your particular situation. Every successful actor has some kind of gaps. Use these gaps intentionally to:
– Take that class that you wer too busy for when you were working,
– Update your marketing materials without any deadline pressure,
– Explore new and different casting platforms, and/or
– Developing your own a passion project.
Activity can create momentum, and your momentum will help to fight off despair.
Create Non-Industry Wins
When your entire self-worth depends on your job, which happens to be your casting directors’ opinions, you might be setting yourself up for a crisis. Build your own resilience by achieving own goals outside of this industry:
– Train for and run a 5K,
– Learn three new recipes,
– Complete a 30-day yoga challenge, and/or
– Volunteer for a cause you really care about.
These victories will belong entirely to you. There is no callback needed. And, there will be no agent required. They might remind you that you are already a whole person. You are not just your job and you are not just an actor who is waiting for someone else’s permission to exist.
You Can Establish Your “Minimum Viable Day”
On tough days, having a simple, achievable structure prevents complete collapse. I do this by building routines. I have a routine that I do right when I wake up in the morning. Your minimum viable day might include:
– Morning: One physical activity (even a 10-minute walk will do)
– Afternoon: One career action (submit for one role, reach out to one of your contacts)
– Evening: One self-care activity (call a friend, take a bath, read a fiction book)
In the evenings, after everything, I typically lie down or sit down and read a fiction book before I go to sleep. This helps me to unplug, unwind, and relax a little bit, enough to go to sleep.
Three small actions are manageable even when if your motivation is almost zero. These actions, they can help you to maintain forward movement even without any overwhelming pressure whatsoever.
Build Your “Booking-Independent” Identity
Write this down: “I am a person who acts, not just an actor.”
List five things that describe you beyond your next acting gig. For example:
– A Friend,
– A Dedicated Runner,
– A Dog Parent, and/or
– An Amateur Baker.
Or:
– A Science Fiction Reader,
– A Guitar Player, and/or
– A Coffee enthusiast.
When booking anxiety peaks, then you can revisit this list. Your worth isn’t tied up in the industry and it is not measured in screen credits. Productions will end. Your contracts will finish. But, you will remain, resilient.
Recognize Any Early Warning Signs:
Resilience includes knowing when you need to ask for some support. You can seek professional help if you experience any of these:
– Persistent hopelessness that lasts for more than two weeks,
– An Inability to enjoy your previously pleasurable activities,
– Any Major Significant sleep or appetite changes, and/or
– Thoughts of self-harm.
Every actor’s health insurance, if you have insurance, (including Covered California and many marketplace plans) includes many mental health benefits. You should Use them. This is what they are there for.
The Truth About Our Quiet Periods
Veteran actors know: Careers are built in the quiet periods, in between. And, not built during the busy ones. Your resilience during your downtime will likely determine your longevity in this industry. Those who don’t quit, these actors who last aren’t necessarily the most talented. They are the ones who learned to cope, to surf the waves instead of being crushed by them, so to speak.
Remember: You’re not alone in this struggle, many others are there or have been there, and seeking support is just professionalism, it’s not a weakness.
