We were lucky to catch up with Sharon Spell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sharon, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.
I prioritize rest then reverse-engineer my day. So many of us run on fumes which isn’t a great way to get through life. Creating time to unplug can be tricky, but placing your mental and physical health first is worth the effort.
I spent years in a hustle mindset, but couldn’t fully enjoy my wins because I was either too tired, or too focused on the next goalpost. I worked countless hours either at a part-time job or making my art, getting home late and not getting enough sleep. I worked while going through breakups and grief, not giving myself time to adjust and I thought I was doing great. But looking back I was exhausted.
The pandemic helped me realize I finally needed to change things. At first it was nice to have available time, but then there was too much of it. I wanted a system I could stick to, so I created a work routine while prioritizing rest. I developed habits that are still in play today including meditation, exercise, and taking breaks when I can.
What works for me won’t work for everyone. But no matter what changes emerge, make sure to take care of yourself first.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am an award-winning writer, storyteller, comedian and former docent living in New York City. I like to keep a few projects going at once. I’m currently finalizing a short film script as I polish my fourth original pilot. Next I’ll dive back into my feature screenplay. Working this way helps me see the big picture for every story.
I’m proud of my experiences on stage and on camera, but I’m most excited now about my growth as an artist through these scripts. Each one is based on elements of my life, and I explore larger themes through my characters’ journeys: environmentalism, grief and loss, immigration rights, women’s rights, healthcare, censorship and more.
Art unites us, which is why it is so important to find your own artistic voice to connect with others.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three skills that have made a difference for me are listening, bringing your A-game, and to check your ego at the door.
Listening is a skill I strive to be better at in conversations. Often people will wait for the other person to finish talking so that they can speak, or worse, we talk over each other and fail to connect. Once I learned how to take a breath and circle back, it vastly improved my mental health and helped mend fences. A great exercise to practice in conversation is to echo back to the person what you just heard them say and ask, “Did I get that right?” You can build from there. I don’t always get it right, but it’s worth it to keep trying.
And because I know my worth, I approach each job with everything I have. Most jobs I’ve had came via friends; from cleaning apartments to installing department store window displays, to running a live show in New York. But before I quit drinking eleven years ago, I don’t know that I always brought my A-game. I was a highly functioning alcoholic and would show up no matter what, but it took a lot to get through the fog of each day. After I quit drinking, I got back in touch with my authentic, fun, whole self, and bringing that to any opportunity offers a competitive edge.
“Check your ego at the door” is a quote from Quincy Jones from the recording of “We Are The World.” The talent in that studio was a who’s-who of music at the time. It’s a reminder to do the work in front of you and enjoy the spirit of collaborative play.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I love a collaborative process. It’s great to specialize in one thing, and then to know a little about a lot of other things so you can understand what other folks contribute. In the past few years I’ve pivoted from telling stories on stage to writing stories in scripts. I’m learning a whole new art form, and I feel like I’m telling stories in a better way. I love the new skills I’ve learned, and where I lack understanding on things like formatting, for example, it thrills me to work with someone with more screenwriting experience.
It’s fun to play and learn and engage with other people. It’s lovely to watch other people shine their lights. That’s another way to avoid burnout, when we all allow our lights to shine. That’s a spark that endures.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sharonspell.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonspell/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonspell/
Image Credits
Mindy Tucker, Sharon Spell, Jed Resnik, Bryan Berlin, Craig Klonowski
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
