This week, Space to Breathe’s team land back in Edinburgh to provide support for artists, producers, directors and team at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2022.
You can find out about all we’re doing here.
But how do you build a mentally well Fringe? What are the wellbeing principles that can support in performing a show, organising a venue or managing life in a month long festival? Here, Andy Freeman shares three principles which we’ve found consistently help people. These ideas form part of the Building a Mentally Well Fringe seminar we’re running with Fringe Connect.
Being Well
Running or performing a show at the Fringe can be an unreal experience. Long days, late nights, living in a new city, wishing an audience to attend, flyering and marketing, critics star ratings, chairs and venues and tech … and so much more.
In these times it’s inevitable that we’ll become anxious or worried sometimes - this is normal human behaviour. But in these times how do we stop everyday worry becoming elongated and overwhelming - like an elastic band being stretched and stretched?
Managing these times is crucial to staying well and is the basis of resilience. The NHS defines resilience as:
Resilience is a key factor in protecting and promoting good mental health and is defined as an individual's ability to successfully adapt to life tasks in the face of social disadvantage or highly adverse conditions.
How do we build these ideas of being able to adapt into our lives, our performing and our fringe? We’ve found these three key ideas really help.
Keep Grounded
Be present
Stay self aware
Why not try these ideas?
Keep Grounded
When stress and anxiety hit, we can feel like our lives are shaken up. This often feels like a snow globe being shaken by events and gears - often outside of our control. The key idea of grounding is to allow life to settle again, so we can see a little clearer. Check this video (below) out for more.
Grounding works a little like the grooves on a vinyl record. We can feel struck in a pattern of events or a thought that keeps going round and round. What if this happens? What if no one attends? What will the critics say?
In this times finding a quick way to stop and reset our thoughts helps. The Stop Process (below) is a great way to do this, using a simple breathing exercise to reset our thoughts - this is a bit like lifting the needle on a record.
Being Present
One of the joys of the Fringe is to engage in moments of performance and story which can move people to laughter, tears and even to new learning and experiences. Being present in these moments and being able to take joy in what we do is a wonderful gift - yet stress and anxiety can take this away from us.
Many of our stresses can live in our past - reminding us of what's happened before or worries we have from our past. Then many of our concerns can also sit in the future - what will happen if this happens or maybe visualising the worst of all possible outcomes.
Being present is the cornerstone of Mindfulness and offers the ability to be in the now - asking what’s in our control, what can we really effect. Being present also means we can see the positives in the day and ask what are we grateful for - all these ideas build our wellbeing. Check out this five minute meditation for more.
Self awareness
Psychologist Carl Rogers said:
“the curious paradox is that when I accept myself, just as I am, then I can change”
This wisdom brings together the ideas of grounding (settling so I can see clearly) and being present (this is where I am now) and says that being self-aware is the outcome. If can see clearly where I am and what’s going on - however tough that might be - that is the place from where I effect change.
As you’re working and performing at the Fringe take some time to stop and reflect and ask how you’re doing, ask what is going well and what you’re concerned about, ask what emotions are going on inside you. For starters why not try these two questions to reflect on:
What drains me?
What strengthens me?
When you understand what drains you, you can ask - how can I mitigate that?
When you understand what strengthens you, you can ask - how can I give time for that?
This simple piece of self-awareness can make a real difference to your wellbeing.
Building a Mentally Well Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe Festival is a heady mix of excitement, emotion, stress, panic and joy. For everyone performing and working this year we hope you have a brilliant Fringe. If we can support you during the time you’re here why not check out our mental health support below for more or email me at info@spacetobreatheuk.com to find out more about what we can do.