Tips to Beat Cartoon Stress In The Animation Industry
Cartoon Stress exists regardless of whether you are new to the animation industry or have been working in it for a long time, chances are good that you have experienced first-hand just how brutal it can be. At present, it is estimated that nearly 83% of the American workforce is faced with varying degrees of work-related cartoon stress. Check out some of our cartoon stress jobs here (Hopefully)
Thankfully, cartoon stress can be reduced in a number of ways to leave you feeling more relaxed and increasingly capable of delivering exceptional work. While, in extreme cases, professional medical intervention may be required, you can often tackle your cartoon stress head-on, simply by making a few lifestyle changes.
Teach yourself how to relax
If you want to continue pursuing your animation dreams without having a nervous breakdown, you need to learn how to relax. There are a variety of very helpful techniques, such as mindfulness, deep breathing exercises and meditation, that can help you achieve a relaxed state.
Meditating, even just for a few minutes a day, can help decrease your anxiety, manage your cartoon stress, and give your creativity a welcome boost. If you are a parent, you should consider getting the whole family to meditate with you.
Not only will you be spending quality time with your loved ones (which is often very rare, thanks to countless deadlines and long working hours) but even the youngest family members can benefit from it.
Eat nourishing food and sleep enough
On any typical day, an animator has to deal with unreasonable demands and tight deadlines that are enough to send your cartoon stress levels through the roof. If you find yourself not sleeping enough while also depriving your body of vital nutrients, chances are you will not be able to effectively handle even the slightest bit of pressure that comes your way.
According to the CDC, eating badly and sleeping less than 7 hours a night can wreak havoc with both your body and your mind. Try to include a lot of nutrient-dense foods, such as fruit and vegetables, lean protein, dairy, and nuts and legumes in your diet, and aim to sleep between 7 and 9 hours a night so that you can start every day feeling energized and stress-free.
Move More to Ease Cartoon Stress
As an animator, you will spend a great deal of your time sitting down in front of a computer or tablet. Being this sedentary won’t do you any favors, and you may soon find your stress levels increase drastically. Numerous studies have found that exercise is a great stress buster, and that being active for as little as 30 minutes a day will boost your body’s endorphin production, which, in turn, will help reduce your stress levels and promote sounder sleep. Exercise also helps to take your mind off stressful thoughts, which will make it easier to concentrate and render your best work.
Working in the animation industry is undoubtedly very rewarding, although it can be stressful as well. As long as you make an effort to reduce your stress levels where possible, you will be able to manage your career with ease.
Jane Evans – Freelance Writer