5 Ways to Balance Life and Acting

There’s a daily expectation I confront as an actor, enabled by internal and external forces, that acting is my life. Therefore, one might argue that there’s no need to balance life and acting, right?

Maybe. Some actors might thrive with zero balance in their lives. But some crave balance, and I’m one of them. This often comes with a sense of guilt, that I’m sure many artists experience as well.

Why guilt? Well, seeking balance— or even a bit of space between you and your art— may insinuate to the outside world that you’re less committed to your craft (for those who are unfamiliar, dedication and commitment can be highly rewarded within artistic communities).

So, yeah, finding balance as an artist who craves it can be difficult. There are many obstacles and feelings we must navigate before we can find a sense of peace, confidence, and contentment.

If you’re an actor or artist craving balance, know that I’m in the same boat as you. Here are 5 ways I balance life and acting (well, I try to).

1. Start and End Your Day With a Mindful Activity

2. Book Those Travel Plans

3. Develop a New Hobby With No Validation Attached

4. Prioritize Your Health (Mental and Physical)

5. Take Baby Steps

1. Start and End Your Day With a Mindful Activity

The little moments in our lives, while they may seem unimportant, ultimately add up to make the big picture. By starting and ending my day with a mindful activity unrelated to my acting career, it sets the tone for the whole day.

My morning activities include making my bed, preparing an amazing breakfast sandwich and coffee, and tidying my room. By cleaning my space and enjoying one of my favorite meals each morning, the intentionality behind this process makes me feel calm, fulfilled, and ready for the day’s challenges.

My evening activities include tidying my room again (I’m a clutter bug), video gaming, and reading or journaling. Video gaming and reading is a great way for my mind to escape after a long day of auditions, rejections, and career anxiety.

2. Book Those Travel Plans

Ooph, this one is still really hard for me to do. While juggling auditions, acting classes, and a day job, I also need to preserve a flexible schedule that can change at a moment’s notice if I book a gig. Time suddenly feels so precious. The thought of traveling suddenly feels… risky.

Traveling out of town for two weeks? That’s two weeks of auditions you’ll miss. Traveling multiple times a year? Yikes. Might as well throw in the towel.

But that’s not living a ‘balanced’ life. I’m not even sure it’s living. Book those train tickets. Go visit your family. Go visit your friends. Go experience things. Your are not leaving your career behind.

3. Develop a New Hobby With No Validation Attached

Developing a new hobby without internal or external validation allows me to experience an activity that brings me genuine joy on its own. Yes, acting brings me tons of joy on it’s own, but I would be lying if I said feedback from others has zero impact on me or my art.

It’s so refreshing to practice a hobby without needing to please myself or others. And getting a taste of that care-free feeling actually allows me to foster that same freedom in my acting.

4. Prioritize Your Health (Mental and Physical)

You deserve to feel good. I’ll say it again. You deserve to feel good.

If you’re feeling crummy, anxious, depressed, or in pain, it can be very hard to find balance.

If you’re having a slow month (maybe there aren’t many auditions or gigs), catch up on your health appointments. Run those blood tests, find a good therapist, and get your vaccines up-to-date before your schedule gets busy again.

5. Take Baby Steps

Your commitment and dedication to your art is not measured by the number of tasks you cross of your checklist.

I used to believe I needed to spend every second of every day working towards my acting career. I ended every day feeling… awful. I could never complete enough tasks to satisfy the nagging ache that expected more from me.

Now, I worry less about having a long list. I’ve learned that having a short task list is more sustainable, enjoyable, and fulfilling. Crossing everything off a short list is more rewarding than crossing off only a portion of a long list.

Taking baby steps day by day allows me to maintain a sustainable momentum in my acting career while also prioritizing other areas of my life.

Enjoy the Journey, Friends

Craving balance in your artistic life does not make you less committed to your career than someone who doesn’t need balance. If you’re in your career for the long haul, you might as well enjoy it. In many cases, finding balance and stillness is the best thing you can do for yourself and your craft.