Managing Stress In the Fashion Industry
We all deal with a certain level of stress throughout our lives. Whether it is work or just life related we tend to become so stressed out that we become burnt out. Burnout is described as and "emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress."
With the fashion industry being one of the most intense and competitive industries to be apart of you are almost guaranteed to become stressed out at some point in your career. If you are a stylist, designer, model, PR agent, intern, buyer, ect you will have deadlines, important projects, and little time to do them in our fast paced world. Stress is not always the worst thing in the world. As designer of 1205 and artistic director of footwear label John Lobb, Paula Gerbase offers this perspective on stress:
While yes stress can be good it also is important to be mindful of where to draw the line for your own sake. I'll be providing some tips on how to mange those stressful moments and how to keep you from getting that burnt out feeling in the first place.
Turn off your work phone on the weekends. It's okay to take time away for yourself even if its just for a day or two. Stop checking your emails and text messages and allow yourself to breath and relax.
Exercise. Studies have shown that when you exercise chemicals that reduce stress are released in your body. When your body is in the right place your mind is sure to follow.
Learn to say no. It's very easy to take on too many projects in this industry because you just don't know how to say no. Setting boundaries for yourself will help you build the confidence you need to pursue the projects that you really want to take on. The best way to do this is to be precise and honest when turning someone/something down.
Sleep. This one is simple. Get some rest so you can do your best.
Manage your time. Its okay to multi-task to a certain extent. Creating a schedule and keeping a calendar (google calendar is great) will be extremely helpful with this.
Life is all about finding a balance and with these tips I hope that you will be able to relieve some stress in your busy industry life. Comment below your thoughts!