I have always been the type of person who did everything all the time. In high school I was in 9 clubs, stayed after-school everyday. Life hasn’t changed much. I work two jobs, perform burlesque at least twice a week, volunteer, organize art events, make art and read daily, and I still make time for my friends and family. Even though I am a big girl, I definitely spread myself too thin, and it is exhausting. I wait till the bitter last minute to finish everything. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’m laying in my bed writing this blog, only hours before deadline when I should actually be sleeping. Trying to trade sleep for productivity is dangerous. I wish I didn’t have to sleep to live – life would be better if I had those 8 hours to do other activities. I was always the little kid who fought to stay up all night. Sleep is the cousin of death.
However it is important to take care of yourself. Nobody thanks you for burning out. It’s important to have some time for yourself. Relax, take a bath, do some yoga, smoke a bong, and pet a kitty. Then go! Go! Go!
Improvisation is the key to surviving and striving through all the little shit storms life throws at you or the ones you jump into face first. You have to be able to make things up as you go along. Who knew the best ideas were just sitting up your ass waiting to be pulled out? Confidence will coax those little gems right out of you, just don’t flush them, flourish in them. Recognize your own genius and rise above all obstacles. Nothing is unconquerable. My best performances are often thought up minutes before a show or even during the performance itself.
Time management is key. Multitasking is also very important. I often find myself doing my full makeup at red lights on a way to a gig or work. I’m terrible about eating in the car too – a double cheeseburger in my hand, often my only meal of the day. Don’t do this! Fast food is absolutely terrible for you. There is often no nutritional value, but a high fat and sugar content. If you are already running low on energy this will do no good for your body. Take care of yourself.
Life is fucking stressful but you can’t let the stress control your life. Write down all the stuff you need to get done and always schedule in down time and fun stuff. Remember, you are only capable of doing so much. I need to listen to this advice. When I try to do everything, I can’t focus on anything and my whole life suffers.
Watch that temper! Lack of sleep and too much responsibility can make a person cranky. Never take out your stress on someone else. Make a conscious effort to think about why you are so angry and fix it before you bite someone’s head off. Innocent bystanders often suffer the wrath of those who bite off more than they can chew. Spit some out and ask for help. Don’t let pride get in the way of progress and success.
Learn from your failures and recognize your strengths. Positive energy gets shit done. Take good out of every situation. It’s either a lesson learned or a job well done. It’s never the end of the world. Accept help. You are capable of so much, but not everything, and that’s ok!
