As I’m writing this, it’s probably one of the busiest times of year for my business.
There are a lot of video projects happening for my clients as well as for my YouTube channel.
And so, in midst of all of it, I figured I’d share a few ways that I “try” to avoid burnout during the peak of busy season.
Tip #1: Get Enough Sleep
It can be very tempting, especially as a video editor, to stay up all night and work on a video project. But what I’ve found is that it is honestly not worth it in the long run…
My days of long nights editing ended a while back when I realized the importance of getting enough sleep.
The problem is that if you burn yourself out in one night, then you have no energy left for the next day. And that will eventually catch up to you.
So, although you might be able to get that one important project done, you sacrifice your future work and end up burning out cause it’s unsustainable.
That’s why I always prioritize getting a minimum of 7 hours of sleep per night, ideally at least 8, no matter how busy I am.
Tip #2: Drink Plenty of Water
This is a very underrated tip. If you want to keep your energy up during busy season, you need to drink and eat the right foods.
Water is a key part in this, especially for live event videography. As a videographer, I always bring my water bottle with me. And usually by the end of the shoot or the event, it’s close to empty.
In addition, I always make sure to eat before going to a video shoot or event. Especially in live events, sometimes you don’t know if you’ll be able to get a meal break.
Tip #3: Have Extras of Everything
I always bring an extra pair of everything with me when it comes to live event videography.
Extra SD cards, extra cameras, extra clothing, extra everything because you never know when you might need it.
It also provides peace of mind during busy season, because if you run out of space on your memory card, you always know that you have a backup with you.
And if you rip your pants during an event, well… you can easy change.
Tip #4: Keep Track of Your Time
I think one of the biggest keys to managing busy season effectively is to keep track of your time and keep track of your projects.
I find to-do lists very helpful in addition to having a time tracking app. This helps keep me focus and on track to make sure I get my projects completed on time.
If you’re looking for a free time tracking app, one I’ve found is linked below. I really have enjoyed using it, and it has helped me quite a bit for keeping track of my time.
Tip #5: Always Have Time for Yourself
I think no matter how busy it gets for you, having at least some time for yourself to recharge is very important.
In addition to getting enough sleep, you also need to be able to take a step away from your work to fully recharge.
Whether that’s taking off a day if you can or even taking a short 30-minute walk between editing projects, I think clearing your brain can really help manage the stress of busy season.
Let me know how you manage busy season. Leave your comments down below, I’d love to hear from you. Thanks for reading!