6 Ways to Manage Your Stress Level on Set

Production, whether it is for a drama series or a film, can be rigorous and may take a toll on your mental health. It often requires the actors to work long hours, practice, and work even on weekends. The pressure to act well in every scene and bring the best out of you can be very stressful. Even more, actors can easily feel nervous and worry about the outcome of the shoot. 

They might not know the difference between stress vs anxiety and often ignore their feelings thinking that they are just a little nervous about the scene. When in reality, it could be overwhelming stress that they feel constantly and ruin their health in the process. 

But the thing is you have to maintain your stress levels to stay calm and healthy. This way, you can work more productively and advance your career. Earn yourself a reputation for being professional and hardworking and it could help you land the next big role that you have been aiming for. 

Here are some best ways you can adopt to manage the stress and pressure you might feel while on filming shoots.

Rest and Sleep Well

Make sure you get a good night’s sleep on the days leading to filming. Since lack of sleep and stress can have a disturbing cycle, each can worsen the other. When you don’t sleep well for days and work long hours, it can easily begin to weigh on you. 

You can significantly reduce stress by making sure you get a good night’s sleep consistently. Make yourself comfortable before sleep and aim to go to bed at the same time every night. Try your best to limit screen time right before bed, and make sure your phone isn’t keeping you up too late. 

Eat a Well Balanced Diet 

Your mental health is affected if you are physically unwell or tired most of the time. It might take you a little bit more effort to take time out of your filming routine to eat healthily. But it’s equally important to eat a healthy diet and exercise when you can.  

If you consume junk food daily, it can make you feel ill and can even begin to show up in places such as your skin. Good diet and exercise both have a great influence on your well-being, but also your mental health. Moreover, a daily workout can enable your body to make chemicals that improve mental well-being. A healthy lifestyle can help your body get rid of chemicals that are linked to stress and anxiety. 

Prepare and Practice for the Role 

You would naturally be nervous or stressed about something that you are not prepared for. It could also be a dance scene that you didn’t spend much time practicing. No matter what kind of role you are assigned, practice will make you perfect. 

Practice in your spare time and focus on your role with complete precision to deliver the best performance. Your practice may vary depending on what you are preparing for. Like if your role is of a news reporter then you have to practice your pronunciation and speaking skills. 

Take Out Time to Meditate 

Practice mindfulness to calm yourself down. Meditate more often to focus on your breathing and observe your feelings in silence without judgment. 

Not everyone can see the value of meditation and realize how useful it is. It can make your brain rely less on unstable emotional reactions during stressful times. It takes discipline and mental commitment to stay on track during filming, and meditation can help with this. 

Stay Hydrated 

Make sure you are always hydrated to stay fresh and stress-free on set. When you forget to drink enough water between your busy routine, it could leave you more cranky. And you would also feel low on energy and may end up getting a headache. These things can make your stressful day turn even worse and leave you mentally exhausted. 

Bring your water bottle along to stay hydrated between shoots. Make sure to drink about six to eight glasses of water daily. By sticking to healthy habits, you can significantly reduce stress levels and have a positive outlook on things. Your co-workers would also love to work with you if you keep a positive attitude and maintain a proper work ethic. 

Spend Time with Your Loved Ones 

Sometimes you just need a little relaxing time with your family or friends to give yourself a break from the stressful routine. Working continuously can be one of the reasons why you are always stressed. 

Talk to a friend and share your struggles and feelings to lighten your mood. Talkative people tend to be happier because they vent their feelings. Go on a mini vacation even if you get a day or two off from the filming schedule. A little change in the usual routine might be what you are looking for. It can help you relax your mind and not think about anything else rather than enjoying yourself.