Meet Rafaela Rocha

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rafaela Rocha. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rafaela below.

Hi Rafaela, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout

Burnout forces you to stop, it’s an explosion you try to avoid, but it still happens. My way of overcoming it was to literally pause my life and rest. Resting, even while thinking about the future, became my foundation.
My healing came from caring for the three spheres of my being: body, soul, and spirit.
My spirit required trust, trust in God, and the confidence that He would take care of tomorrow.
My soul needed rest, and therapy was essential in helping me take care of my mental health.
My body needed better nourishment, so I changed the way I was eating and started working out more. Yoga, with its stretching and meditation, helped me reconnect with myself.
Burnout was hard, but it was also a necessary process. It taught me to look within, to pay attention to myself, and to understand my personal boundaries, especially around work. It showed me that working 16 hours a day is not worth it.
Most importantly, it reminded me that I need to continue taking care of myself, avoid returning to that moment, and enjoy the present more fully.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I have more than 10 years of experience in the entertainment industry, working across films, documentaries, games, and television. Most of my career has been in post-production, where I’ve taken on many different roles, especially within the editorial department. I’ve worked as a colorist assistant, editor, assistant editor, and post-production coordinator, and I’ve also spent a significant amount of time involved in the finishing process.
Today, I continue to focus on post-production and explore the different areas of the entertainment industry where my skills can contribute.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Focus, hard work, and a willingness to learn were the qualities that helped me the most. It’s important to have goals and stay focused. The path may change along the way, but having a clear final destination is essential.
I know I mentioned burnout before, but I truly believe there are seasons when you do need to work extra, especially when you’re young. That’s the time to be proactive, to support your team, and to embrace every opportunity that comes your way.
It’s also important to understand that the industry is constantly evolving. Technology is always advancing, and staying open, curious, and willing to learn is key. Facing something new can feel challenging or even intimidating, but once you give yourself the chance to learn it, it stops being “new” and becomes another skill you’ve mastered.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

I would say that I would leave my work to travel and serve people around the world. There’s no more meaningful way to live than in connection with others. It would be wonderful to explore different cultures, experience new realities, and step outside the bubbles that keep us confined within a capitalist system.
To live simply, enjoy the present, serve others, and value nature and creation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lightupfilms.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafaela-rocha/?locale=en