Balancing Act: Mastering Work-Life Harmony in Hollywood

In this episode, we explore the vital importance of work-life balance in Hollywood and provide actionable strategies to help you thrive in a demanding industry. We discuss setting strong boundaries, prioritizing health, learning to say no, and incorporating wellness practices to sustain your career and well-being.

• Emphasizing the significance of work-life balance amid Hollywood's demands 
• Discussing the challenges of long hours and high expectations 
• Importance of setting non-negotiable boundaries for well-being 
• Strategies for prioritizing health and rest while on set 
• Tips for maintaining proper nutrition to support energy levels 
• Recognizing the value of scheduling downtime for personal recharge 
• Understanding when to say no to opportunities that don’t align 
• Advising against the habit of jumping from job to job 
• Exploring the benefits of Ayurvedic practices for holistic health 
• Encouragement to take a long-term approach to career sustainability

Transcript

Strategies for Work-Life Balance in Hollywood

Speaker 1 0:00

Okay , welcome back . Today , we're tackling an important topic that doesn't get discussed enough in this industry , and that is work-life balance . Hollywood is known for its intense pace , long hours and high expectations , which can make it challenging to find time for yourself , but maintaining balance is essential for your well-being and career longevity for your well-being and career longevity . In this episode , I'll share strategies for staying grounded , setting boundaries and creating a work-life balance that supports both your personal life and career growth . And this is something that I had . Mentors tell me some really great insight when I first started the business , but one of the things that I didn't focus on was that work-life balance . I really just went all in all work and no play . And so but not only just about no play I literally was eating , craft service and staying up at night after I got home from work and zoning in on a television show , and the next thing you know , I'm getting like four hours of sleep . So what I've learned from that is that you really have to be intentional about your health to keep yourself sane and to keep yourself healthy mentally , physically and emotionally . Okay , so let's go into the key points . Hollywood is exciting , but it can also be all-consuming If you don't set boundaries and prioritize your well-being , it's easy to burn out . Balance allows you to perform at your best and enjoy the journey . Obviously , at the beginning of your career , when you're hustling and you're trying to build your reputation , you're going to have to do it all . Obviously , don't do things that go against your values and your integrity . But you're going to have to work hard and you are going to have to have sleepless nights and you are going to have to like I think I don't know what episode I said it in but I was working seven day weeks and you know I was . I was young , I was able to do it . Nowadays , I don't know if I could do it . I mean , I know I could do it temporarily , but it just it would be too much . I've become very sensitive and I've become very aware of my body and what my body needs are and what it's trying to tell me before it breaks down . So , anyways , here's some practical strategies to find balance , or to create that balance . Finding balance doesn't happen by accident . It takes intention , which I said a while ago . Here are some strategies to help you create a balance that works for you One you have to set clear boundaries , decide what's non-negotiable for your well-being , whether it's time with your family , self-care routines or taking breaks .

Speaker 1 3:10

Setting boundaries doesn't mean you're less dedicated . It means you value your longevity . And before I keep going , you know I've worked with some people where obviously , they have their reputation built , they have their career built , they're known in the industry , but they literally will . Before they take a job or they get asked to take a job , they'll be like okay , I have to leave early on these days because my kids have , you know , whatever dance recital , whatever , I want to put my kids first . This is a non-negotiable for me . I have to take certain nights off . That's great . You should be able to do that , especially if you already built your reputation and you have people you work with constantly . You need to stay true to that .

Speaker 1 3:57

Also , if there's a moment in time where you're exhausted and you need to take an early night off or late morning in usually in the mornings it's harder to do that , but so an early night off you need to let your team know and your department head know . Like , hey , I need a break , like I'm unraveling here okay , and that comes to the next one . Prioritize health and rest . Okay , and that comes to the next one prioritize health and rest . So in that moment , like I said , you have to let them know , because Hollywood demands a lot , but rest is essential . I know that I do not function well without rest , especially when I'm department heading and having to remember all these things . I have to get my rest . Everything else is turned off . I don't watch TV at night . I have my routines , my self-care routines and my mental to reset for the next day . But make time for sleep , exercise and healthy meals . These habits will keep you resilient and focused . These habits will keep you resilient and focused .

Speaker 1 5:11

And while we're here , I'm going to say one of the best tips I can give you , once you get to a place where you can afford it , is food delivery service . They feed you on set , but a lot of times they really got cheap with food . Now it depends on the production you're on Like I'm even on some really big productions and sometimes the catering is really awful . It depends on who they hire and if they actually care about what they're doing . But you could start out the show testing the waters and everything , but if it's not good food and if they're not feeding you , well and craft service is just a bunch of crap . You need to take care of yourself with food . I don't care who you are . I'm going to tell you right now the best thing that I've learned in life is food is what runs the machine , it's your medicine , it's what keeps you strong and healthy . So if you're eating a bunch of sugar and food that's not actually real food every day , on top of not getting sleep and on top of doing these long hours and then the stress of taking care of actors and running the show and production and everything , you're going to drop .

Speaker 1 6:20

When I was in that show in Detroit , I wasn't taking care of myself and I was ran ragged and I was doing almost everything and I I did . I dropped several times . I had to go to the hospital twice . One time they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me . I wasn't dehydrated . That I was just . I was ran ragged . I wasn't dehydrated , but my body was like no more , you're not eating right , you're having beers on the weekends , you're staying up late , like I just was trying to cope with the crazy , and then it wasn't helping in the long run and I dropped . So you have to prioritize all of these things and and then schedule downtime . Create space in your schedule for activities that recharge you , whether it's a hobby , spending time with loved ones or simply relaxing . Downtime is essential to maintaining a healthy work-life balance . And again , instead of going out on the weekends , every Saturday night , me and some friends from work we would go and have a dinner together . I could have stopped there , I should have stopped there , but the rest of the crew was going out and they were having a good time , sometimes dancing , whatever and I wanted to be a part of that .

Speaker 1 7:42

I had something going on in my life . I had just broken out of a relationship , a long term relationship . I was also going through the stress of having to run the department and I wasn't prepared for I didn't have the skill for it yet , like I didn't have the training , I didn't have that experience yet . I didn't know what I was getting myself into , and so it was all of these stressors and then I'll tell you more on this later . But I also had a spiritual thing going on and it was a lot . Looking back at it now , it was a lot . I can't believe I made it through that alive . And then I got a concussion because someone goosed me and I hit my head on this metal frame , had to go to hospital for that , like I had a lot of things going on that it was transitioning me . I really feel like it was a huge growth spurt in my life , in my personal life , my career but it was just again . It was teaching me all of this that I'm teaching you now about work-life balance . You gotta really be intentional about this , especially if you want to make it in this industry . Okay , all right , let's move on .

Saying No and Yes

Speaker 1 9:01

Learn to say no and when to say yes . In hollywood , it's tempting to say yes to every opportunity because it feels like there's always more to gain or you're afraid of missing out . But sometimes saying no is just as powerful . It's about knowing what aligns with your goals and what doesn't . Learning to say no when something doesn't serve your well-being or your long-term vision will help you conserve energy for the opportunities that matter most . And when you do say yes , make sure it's a choice that excites you and contributes to your growth . This I cannot stress to you enough . It's another thing in life that I've learned that is super important .

Speaker 1 9:48

Again , at the beginning of your career , you're going to have to say yes to everything . But when you get to a point where you're established , you need to learn to say no , even to your friends or your family members , whatever it is . If you're feeling uneasy about it or it's going like everything inside of you is screaming no , say no . The more I have honored myself by doing that , the more peace I've had . Once you start doing it , you're going to see your energy shift and you're going to be just much more content and happy . Also , I said no to jobs While we're here . I wasn't going to bring this up yet , but so I don't forget it . The other thing , that the best advice that I can give you . It's a little off topic , but do not be a ship jumper , and I'm sure I'll say this again but do not be a ship jumper , and what I mean by that is the best advice I've ever gotten .

Speaker 1 10:51

Do not start a show and then jump to another show just because it's better , just because it's better . I have personally stuck to this my entire career and I can say that it really has helped me a lot . I've worked and I've known a lot of people . They'll start a show and they'll jump and they'll go to another show , and sometimes it's a hard decision because maybe you department headed a show and then you got asked to do another show . But the show that you department headed a show . And then you got asked to do another show . But the show that you department headed is starting back up .

Speaker 1 11:27

In my opinion , I would not have taken the show if I knew that I was going to have to jump . I would have said you know what ? Personally , I know that my show is starting back up in two months . So if I could just day play , that would be great , or if I could be a heavy day player , that would be great . But I would never say yes to a core position and when I say core I mean a person that's in the main trailer every day permanently . I would never do that Because for one integrity , two , it really messes up the team and if I was a department head I actually wouldn't take on somebody that says , hey , I could do the show but I have to leave in two months .

Speaker 1 12:19

I wouldn't do it because the dynamic of the team and the actors , and then you're having to take that person out and then replace it with someone else because there's a lot of trust that's built and then there's a lot of um , moving parts and then matching and the continuity and all of that like it's just too much . It's too much so I know I kind of said wait on that , but I just want you to . It kind of goes with this but when to say yes and when to say no , like you also need to be a professional and you need to be honest and you need to personally take a step back from things and not be selfish . To that's selfish . And I know some people have to do it because they have families or they have people that they have to take care of or whatnot . But again make a deal with that department head and say I mean , if I could be a heavy day player , that would be great and then you can hire somebody else for that position . But that's just me . I know everybody's different . I just want to share that with you because in my opinion it is frustrating when things like that happen , especially if you're part of the team , that happens to you and you have no control over it . But anyways , as a department head's mindset , I'm just letting you know that's the kind of things that I personally look at and I know a lot of other department heads look at .

Speaker 1 13:44

And if you get the reputation as a show jumper , people will hire you . They're reluctant to hire you because they know that they could potentially lose you and then that's going to cause stress on the job , on them and the other teammates . So try to stay true to that . Um , I've had shows where it's like not a little show , it's still a big show , but it was still not like a major movie . And I've turned down a major movie for it Because , again , I wanted to stay true to my promise to myself and to that integrity . I can tell you right now , if you say my name to anyone that knows me , they will tell you I'm reliable and I'll be there for you . Like I'm not , I won't go anywhere , I will stay the entire time .

Speaker 1 14:35

Oh , and then there's also been times where I've been department heading . I got offered a major , major feature film . It was out of state and everything and we were having a really tough time . My whole team , we were thinking about it . There's things that are going on that , um , you know we were just . It was the first time where I was like it sounds very enticing , but I didn't do it because I am loyal and I don't want to cause any rifts like that . I am loyal and I don't want to cause any rifts like that . So let's see where we're at .

Speaker 1 15:18

Oh , the other thing that I do want to . I do want to add one of the things that I personally have found that makes my work life balance or keeps my health on a show not only the food delivery , but staying away from sugar as much as possible to sleep , exercising if I can , and then , um , ayurvedic medicine . For those that don't know , ayurveda is one of the oldest ways of healing in the world . It's six , seven thousand years old , something around there , and it basically is the first known way of understanding the body and the healing . And I can go into more of this later , but I went to school for a year and learned everything about it . Obviously I'm not a doctor , but I learned the foundation of it . It's so beautiful .

Speaker 1 16:12

Chinese medicine took what they do and what they know from Ayurvedic medicine , so I think Chinese is 5000 years old and they just made it their own . So , like they made it their own herbs from their region . Ayurveda does acupressure massage , which is , oh , it feels so good . And then Chinese medicine did acupuncture . They turned it into acupuncture , which is the needle and so just different things . They tweaked and changed . But personally I started with Chinese and then I went to Ayurveda . Ayurveda is so much more powerful . I started with Chinese and then I went to Ayurveda . Ayurveda is so much more powerful . And you can even ask my boyfriend . He also did the Chinese with me first and then we went to the Ayurveda and man oh man , such a difference .

Speaker 1 16:57

So I remember , on impeachment , my third , it was chaos , guys . I cannot wait to tell you about this show . But towards the end it went on for a year and we had all the COVID gear on , so it was very draining towards the end . Um , my third was like how in the world have you stayed strong and healthy like this ? Like I don't understand it . It and I was like my Ayurvedic herbs , but I also spiritually . I would every night reset and I do bible studies and stuff like that and pray and just meditate . So it really helped reset me spiritually . And but she was just like how have you stayed so positive and so strong and healthy ? You haven't been sick once , you are still so calm and kind and all this stuff , like I had my moments , but overall I didn't let the stress like there would be tornadoes going on all around us or me , and I wouldn't let it . It was like I was in a bubble and it was because I did these specific things to keep that work-life balance .

Speaker 1 18:10

But anyways , the Ayurvedic herbs oh my gosh , there's one that I take . Anyone could take this . But um , it is . It's got 53 herbs and you just take a little shot . I usually I take it twice a day , but oh my gosh , the vitality you get just , oh , it just makes you feel so good .

Speaker 1 18:32

But again , one of the other things I do want to say about Ayurvedic herbs the thing that I love about it it's customized to each individual person . So I can't tell you to take a specific herb because it might wreck you , like it might mess things all up and , like me and my boyfriend , we'd never taken any herbs that are the same . Everything's always been different . But he used to have some stomach problems and it just felt like this little pit , like this void in a stomach . It's hard to , but he tried everything before we did Ayurveda and about three months into taking the herbs he's like , oh my gosh , my stomach is finally better . So it took a while , like cause he'd get off of them and they would kind of come back . Then he would do it again . But over time like I think a year it hasn't come back . So he hasn't been on the herbs and it still hasn't come back . So that's the thing with Ayurveda it takes time to heal but in the long run it actually does its job . It actually heals you instead of band-aiding it .

Speaker 1 19:36

So I know I got off on a tangent . I actually want to do like a podcast on health and teaching people all the things that I know about Ayurveda and maybe I'll have some episodes in here for those . Like I'll do a separate little section for those that are interested in it and the healing and everything that I've learned my healing journey over the last eight years . But yeah , so again , I cannot stress to you enough about the balance . Keep the balance . I was going to tell you an American Horror Story . When I was first starting , I was eating up all the craft service and I think I gained like 20 , 30 pounds . I had that . It was like I didn't go to college so I didn't do the freshman 30 or whatever they call it , but now I got my freshman 20 , my freshman 30 in the industry . So anyways , okay , we're gonna wrap it up here . Thanks for joining me today

Career Sustainability in Hollywood

Speaker 1 20:37

.

Speaker 1 20:37

Again , balance is essential in this industry . As demanding as it is , don't forget to set boundaries , prioritize your health and choose opportunities that align with your vision . If you do this , you can stay grounded and thrive for the long haul . Remember your career is a marathon , sometimes it's a sprint , but you really need to focus on the long-term game . Make time for yourself and you'll be in a better place to enjoy the journey and show up fully on set . If you're looking for more support in navigating Hollywood , check out my other episodes , but also my Hollywood Elite membership , where we dive into the strategies to help you build a sustainable career . If this episode resonated with you , don't forget to subscribe , share it with a friend and leave a review . It would mean the world to me . Alright , I'll see you in the next one .