As we have mentioned, there are simple tools to recenter yourself. There are also some very basic methods for lifting your spirits and focus. Here are a few of my favorites.
Take Time in Nature
We used to spend time outside in nature, but most of us in modern society have built boxes around ourselves. We go from our apartment box to our car box to our theater box or office box. We get little sunlight or fresh air or even touch the earth anymore. We force ourselves into contrived cycles of night and day. We ignore the sunrise and depend on alarms to tell us when to get up and turn off our electric lights when we want to sleep. Household appliances and outdoor power lines bombard us with electromagnetic pollution. In the theater and on movie sets, we’re surrounded by unnatural lighting.
Offset the negative effects by spending time each day in nature. Get outside and feel the sunlight on your skin; take off your shoes and walk on the grass or sand. It’s good for your hormones and your optic nerves. Being outside grounds all that electrical energy running through your body. Seeing the natural world—trees, flowers, oceans, and mountains—helps restore your natural cycles. Nature is calming and improves your mood.
Our busy schedules make it tough to schedule time in nature, so squeeze in “outside time” on the go. Skip the cab and walk. If you’re taking public transportation, pass up the closest subway or bus stop and walk to the next one. When you’re on a break from rehearsal—a five or ten—walk around the block.
Get some natural light on your skin. Vitamin D from the sun is good for you in moderation, so skip the sunscreen for just a few minutes, go outside and soak it up. Make getting outside part of your day, and schedule some time each week to get out in nature!
In some areas, the inside air quality is worse than the air outside. Use indoor plants to absorb chemicals and carbon dioxide (CO2) or open a window and let the fresh air in. If you can’t get out, look at pictures of nature in a book or on your computer. Just looking at nature can have positive effects on your well-being.
Be with People
Be with people, not with the grocery list or what you’re going to say next. Let go of the horrible traffic you dealt with to see this person because none of that matters at the moment. Care enough to give them your undivided attention. What matters is that you’re that person’s friend, coworker, actor, director, coach…lover. Maybe you just met them and they haven’t figured out what your relationship might become. They’ll be more open to finding out if you’re interested enough to give them yourself in that moment.
Think about how it feels when you’re speaking to someone who’s distracted. You’re giving them your time and you want to be their first priority. But they’re distracted. They’re not present. They’re waiting for you to stop talking so they can have their turn. Maybe they’re even looking at their cell phone. Did they hear what you said? Did the words sink in? How does it feel when you interact with people like that? Do you feel empowered—or disemboweled? How do your friends feel when you’re not present for them?
Movement
Movement isn’t specific exercise, but being a more active person in general—not sitting. Our bodies are meant to move. If you’re sitting at a desk most of the day, take regular breaks. Stand up and go for a walk or do a set of push-ups, sit-ups, or squats. If you’re watching television, get up during the commercial breaks. Pause the show every twenty minutes and do some jumping jacks. Make movement part of your life. Some people have active careers (which is great), but with movement, more is more, so take a walk.
Living in a city like N.Y.C. makes movement easy because you already walk everywhere. If you live in L.A. and depend on your car or public transportation to get around town, you have to get out there and walk. If you can’t go for a walk, get up every hour and bounce around or shake your hands to get your circulation going.
Our bodies don’t come loaded with energy—we have to get up and make energy. Sitting on the couch doesn’t give you energy. Eating right, getting enough sleep and regular exercise will generate energy for you. You need that energy—a lot of energy—for your life and career.
Trust that your time together is more important than your phone. Trust that what you have to gain from the person speaking to you is more important than your email. Trust that looking that person in the eye and listening to their words is the best thing you can do at this moment in time.
