Turn It Off.

The key to thriving as a freelancer in the film industry.

I noticed when I first began working in film (though not a freelancer at the time), I was spending 80+ hours a week producing and simply supporting productions. It didn't take long to feel drained and lifeless. All I had was work- I had no life outside of work, other than the occasional get together with friends which usually only lasted 30 minutes to an hour before I had to catch zzz's before another 5am call time. No family time, no friend time, and no me time. For some reason, I felt like that was necessary to keep doing what I loved.

I felt overworked and undervalued, yet continued to push myself without setting healthy boundaries with production partners and my employer at the time. Looking back- I realize that I should've prioritized my self care and life balance much earlier.

Once I cut ties with overworking- it felt like a breath of fresh air. Genuinely. It was so refreshing, I needed to re-learn how to spend free time.

I've been fortunate to learn from my experiences then and now turn my experiences into a healthier lifestyle. Now I feel comfortable ending a work day early just because I want to play tennis in the nice weather, or take some extra time to walk my dogs in the morning and wait to check emails. In the same vein, I can choose to start work early after waking up feeling extra refreshed before I even brew coffee or choose to schedule zooms late at night to connect with production partners when it makes sense. The key here is the choice.

Balance and self-accountability are arguably the two most important values to prioritize when freelancing or working in the film industry. You need to learn to say no in order to keep saying yes.

If this is something you're struggling with- I feel for you. I've been where you are and I promise you can say no. You can put yourself first. Message me if you want some extra support- I'm here.

Written by founder of Delavie Creative: Delaney