Haven’t figured out your New Year’s resolution yet? Still coming to terms with the fact that you didn’t really conquer last year’s resolution? That’s okay! I’ve got some suggestions that will help you reach your goals while also maintaining a level of fun.
Take On More Challenges
Make it your mission to challenge yourself artistically this year. If you are mostly a stage performer and don’t feel as confident being on-screen, commit to taking an acting for the camera class or auditioning for a student film. Allow yourself to go outside of your comfort zone and pat yourself on the back for each new challenge you accept. When you leave the confines of your safety bubble, that’s when true artistic growth is able to happen.
Take Better Care Of Your Health
The most popular New Year’s resolution is usually to lose weight or work out more. These are great, of course, but often leave people feeling disappointed in themselves by the year end if they don’t see significant strides. As a performer, it’s important to be healthy and at your best most days (you never know when a last minute audition will come through!) Instead of worrying about what the scale says, I want you to think broader. If you feel like the addition of some fruits and vegetables to your diet would be beneficial, buy a blender and teach yourself how to make some smoothies. If you haven’t visited a dentist in awhile, look up some in your area and make an appointment for after the New Year. Knowing that you are taking care of your health will alleviate stress and vastly improve other areas of your life.
Be Kinder
The performing arts industry can be a tough place. It can sometimes feel like everyone is your competition and that you don’t have many people rooting for you. Starting this year, be the person in the audition waiting room that compliments someone on their outfit or offers up a cough drop if someone needs one. Congratulate more people on their work and I guarantee it will come back to you.
Stick To Commitments
It’s become so easy to back out of plans or cancel one’s commitments. Thanks to technology, a quick text allows you to cancel on someone without even having to talk to them on the phone. This year, make a vow to be more reliable. Be supportive of friends and do your best to attend their events. Not to mention, if you show up to a friend’s recital, the chances are much more likely that they’ll be there to support you at yours. Of course, with the hundreds of Facebook invites, real invites and emails – it is impossible to go to everything. However, what you can do is to keep your word. If you say you are going, go.
Happy New Years! Here’s to the best year yet!
