Charles Little II
Some say that the first law of nature is self-preservation. But as a busy creative professional who also juggles roles as head of household, soccer coach, and more, I often find my self-care at the bottom of my priority list, if it hasn’t fallen completely yet.
In the wake of last year’s WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike, and with the many pressures we face every day from politics and inflation to global conflict and domestic terrorism, it seems like we could all benefit from a little extra support. With this in mind, I began exploring the world of self-care.
My goal is to find some qualified professionals who can help me gather some input and wise advice that is appropriate for our profession and our guild membership. While attending MPEG’s Reel Wellness for Creatives Workshop, my research led me to a conversation with Danielle Statuto, a photo editor and licensed personal trainer.
Charles: Danielle, please tell me about this workshop and your goals for this series.
Danielle Regulations: I’m a member of the MPEG Women’s Steering Committee. Every year we run different events that we think guild members can benefit from, and I know firsthand how much editors need to keep going.
When we work, we have tunnel vision, and schedules and expectations are taxing both physically and creatively. I want our members to know how to take care of their bodies and put their health first. Only in this way can we be most creative and perform at our best. My goal is to teach our members how to prevent problems before they arise. Because health problems can have a negative impact on our work and may even prevent us from working altogether.
Charles: What are the health risks to be aware of and what health risks we might be trying to prevent or avoid?
Danielle Regulations: The symptoms I noticed at work were neck, shoulder and wrist pain. Adopting correct ergonomic posture in the newsroom is crucial to maintaining good posture and a healthy back and spine. Not only do we need correct ergonomics, we also need to strengthen and stretch our bodies to prevent pain. I hear a lot of editors say, “That’s cool, I have a standing desk.” While that’s a great start, simply having a standing desk isn’t enough. We need to rest and we need to stretch. I know what you’re thinking: “But we can’t just take a break! My editor’s cut is overdue! I get it–I’m that person too. But no matter how long or long you work, you have to take care of your body.” You’ll be better off after an hour of exercise, I promise. Have you ever walked away from a wound that you just couldn’t seem to figure out and you came back with fresh eyes and a fresh body? It’s often easy to see things you missed before. Editor Scott Wallace taught me this.
“Ergonomics in the newsroom are crucial for good posture and a healthy back.”
As editors, our shoulders naturally roll forward when we sit for long periods of time. Simple exercises like wall slides and using resistance bands can help you regain lost mobility in your shoulders. Myofascial release works wonders for your back, especially when using a lacrosse ball. You apply deep pressure to tight muscles, and after a while, you will feel the muscles slowly release tension. Lacrosse is also great for the forearms. Nodules formed there as well. Myofascial release, baby. All day long.
let’s exercise
Staying healthy on the job doesn’t have to be a chore. In the photos on these pages, Danielle and Charles demonstrate some basic fitness moves designed to get the blood flowing.
On the left side of the photo, Danielle is doing push-ups with a rotating handle, but you can get great results with just your hands too.
As Danielle demonstrates, a lacrosse ball or other medicine ball is great for finding trigger points in your muscles. (Search “lacrosse stretches” on YouTube to get started.)
On the right, as Charles and Danielle demonstrate, yoga exercises are a great way to stay flexible, especially after a long day in the editorial chair.
Nerd Fitness (www.nerdfitness.com) — Break down fitness into manageable, goal-oriented chunks. You can sign up for newsletters and search for personal trainers. Free articles are also available.
bodybuilding.com — We get it, you’re not a professional bodybuilder. But you don’t have to look for value on this site. You’ll find clear instructions on how to perform basic movements, such as stretching, all the way to more complex movements, such as Olympic weightlifting.
American Council on Exercise (acefitness.org) — Here’s another ACE you need to know about! A lot of the content here is aimed at trainers and others planning a career in fitness, but there’s also a wealth of exercise-related content and other resources.
Mental health too
Barbara Deutsch and Belle Zwerdling are veteran career and life coaches for Hollywood professionals. They shared their observations and thoughts on mental health within the industry. Barbara believes that the topic of mental health has historically been kept secret in Hollywood, but recently, since the “Me Too” movement, people have become more willing to consider and discuss their mental health. Today, she said, “…the stigma around mental health has lessened.”
In his book The Creative Act: A Way of Being, Rick Rubin calls creatives “…people with the most sensitive antennae… They must protect themselves because everything causes more harm. They are sensitive to everything. Belle Zwerdling echoes this sentiment, saying, “Creative people can be treated as a commodity; therefore, they don’t get the nurturing or care they need as highly sensitive and intuitive people.
Charles: So what can we do as creatives to achieve better mental and emotional performance in this industry?
Belzveldrin: Have a balanced life. It’s important to constantly seek balance and develop activities outside of the business. This industry brings rejection and fear to you every day. When you try to compare yourself, or think you should be where your colleagues are and you’re not there yet, you’re screwed.
Barbara German: I would tell editors that complaining is a very bad idea. No matter what your job is, you are lucky to have it, but you have to kill it! She added: “We live in a world where mental health is not adequately taken care of.”
You can learn more about Barbara Deustch’s book “Open Up or Shut Up” and the leadership approach she coined “The Barbara Deutsch Approach” online at thebarbaradeutschapproach.com.
Belle Zwerdling is the owner of Progressive Artist Agency in Los Angeles and a life coach and intuitive counselor. To learn more about Belle’s Intuitive Counseling classes, visit bellezwerdling.com
– Follow Danielle Statuto on Instagram: @10statuto10.
– Charles Little II, ACE is a photo editor.
