Quick Tip: Making it through the day

If you are going to work in this biz, you are sadly going to work some really long hours. 10-12-hour days are the norm. 14 isn’t unheard of. 16? Yep, it will happen. Sadly, the longest day I ever worked was 23 hours. Thankfully, the business has started to push back, and standard days of 16 hours are becoming less and less common. Having said all of that, even a 10-hour day is long so here are some tips for getting through them.

• Hydrate.

• Stay away from the processed food at crafty. Otherwise, you’ll start an avalanche of sugar highs and lows and you won't be able to escape it.

• Change your shoes at lunch.

• If you don't have an extra pair of shoes, change your socks.

• Sit when you can. Trust me when I say that you will thank me at the end of your career.

• Stretch at the beginning of the day, after lunch, and towards the end.

• Take a power nap at lunch and, if that’s not your thing, just zen out and step away from the hubbub for a while.

• Wear sunscreen when outdoors and sun protective clothing. You’ll be working so hard and be so focused that you won't realize how burned you are getting until it’s much too late.

• Don't underestimate how tired you are when driving home, especially when you are on nights and in the car as the sun is coming up.

• Don't hold the camera if you don't have to. If the DP is using it to light, put it on a box or a stand whenever you can. Save your energy for when you are rolling.

• Try not to let the things you can’t control bother you and, instead, focus on the things you can and make them better.

• Be nice.

• Be helpful.

• Be courteous.