#NerdsUnite: The Ramblings of a Raconteuse (are you as burnt as me?)

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Helenna. We met on twitter not too long ao, and she's totes mcgotes one rad chiquita banana with a flare for all things flair! That's right, Helenna here is what we call an artsy fartsy nerd. She's a poet, into all things dramatic arts, and she's going to come on board to write each week about her love of said drama. Well not like actual drama drama, like some cat fight shit - but you get the idea.

I only have one thing left to say ... HIT IT HELENNA!!! </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @Helslevy

Okay, I have to say I am totally and completely burnt.  Now, this is one of those things that somehow feels like a sin to admit.  Everyone is hustling and working hard and making things happen for themselves in their lives and careers, and somehow I feel like no one ever really talks about burn out.

Admitting that I’m utterly exhausted feels completely liberating and at the same time too much of a vulnerability.  In the entertainment industry it’s all about the next thing that you have coming up. What project are you working on? What movie do you have coming out?  Everyone wants to be the next big thing and everyone is clawing their way to get there.  This past week I was visiting my parents and my two half sisters were also in town.  One of them asked me about the whole process of auditioning for a role and then what happens when you book something.  I told her about how there are literally hundreds of thousands of actors, that 2000 people or more can be submitted for a single one line role, and that even if you book a part you can be cut at any point.  This among the fact that for the past 6 months I have had 3 part time“thrival jobs” at the same time (a term I came up with when I was doing my vlog meaning: jobs that are flexible but bring in the bill paying money so that I can focus on acting, therefore allowing me to thrive as an artist), and produce projects for the web, all while auditioning which is like a job interview everyday….well, this all made me realize, “holy crap I have the right to be burned out.” Now the thing is, everyone I know who is an actor and producer is also in the same boat.  The amazing girls that will be on the Geek Girls Create panel at WonderCon this weekend know exactly what I’m talking about.   

So, because we obviously can’t just stop our pursuits, my question is: how do we create a life of balance so that burn out doesn’t equal completely imploding? Personally, when I reach this burn out point I do everything I can to disconnect and take time for myself.  I hit the gym, go to yoga, sit on my roof, read a book, and just generally chillax.  But I’d love to hear what it is that you do.  What do you do to recharge? 

#xoxo hels

tweet me at: @helslevy

browse me at: helennasantoslevy.com

email me at: contacthelenna@gmail.com