Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Skylar Rhame. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Skylar, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
Self-care for me isn’t about baths and massages and spas (although it does feature some very rigorous at-home skincare sometimes). I wish I had a revolutionary, philosophical attitude towards it but it feels relatively easy to come by.
To me, it’s going easy on yourself. Taking a step back to pour into your own cup. Honoring small routines that give you peace and comfort. We’ve all stared down the barrel of a gun filled with daunting deadlines or projects or bosses or work environments—all of us! But if you don’t take the time to replenish yourself with the basic necessities of food, water, sleep, movement, etc., then you run into burnout and resentment much quicker.
I find that for my success, my care consists of a few things that are all pretty simple.
In the mornings right when I wake up, I drink a big glass of ice water outside in the sunlight before I eat or drink anything. It wakes up my brain and body, and lets me know we’re ready to roll! Studies show that getting morning sunlight in your eyes within the first hour of waking up regulates your circadian clock, improves mood, and boosts alertness and sleep quality.
Proceeding that wake-up, I make breakfast and a special tea/coffee every single day which provides me with a lot of gratification. It isn’t rocket-science, but it’s a way to help my brain by accomplishing a task in the morning before I even start the work day—even if it is small and routine. It’s ritualistic in a sense, and scientifically, completing a task releases dopamine.
Another practice I try to do everyday that is very beneficial for my energy and productivity level is a lunch-time walk. Walking can reduce stress, improve your immune system, give you a natural second-wind, and help bone density and heart rate. Any form of movement when you have a stagnant job is incredibly beneficial to your brain and heart—so sometimes I’ll take a break at lunch for some quick yoga, stretching, weight lifting, etc. if not walking.
Additionally, I try to take intentional small breaks throughout the workday that satisfy some part of my needs. Whether that’s watching a funny YouTube video or making an afternoon matcha or playing with the dog or listening to a podcast, I try to listen to my brain and body to tell me what it needs. Sometimes, I’ll even take a quick 10-15 power nap to get things going again!
In my opinion, self-care is the day-to-day habits that allow you to do what you while giving you fuel to actually complete your responsibilities. It’s the micro things we do every day that help make us better like taking a 10-minute break to clean the house, calling your grandma before work, getting ice cream after dinner, etc.
Self-care is not just simply listening to your mind, body and soul, but prioritizing whatever it says. I see so many people talk about how work beats them down, how they never have time for family/friends, how they hate their boss, how they haven’t exercised in months, etc.—but rarely are those kinds of people trying to change anything about it. With a background in film, I’ve regularly worked 15-18 hour days but have still been able to prioritize having a relaxing shower and catching up with my parents when I get home.
You have to put back into yourself because no one will do it for you. If you truly listen to what your body and mind are subconsciously telling you, it has a funny way of giving you the exact tools to improve the circumstances around you, including your productivity and energy at work.
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?
Born and raised in Atlanta, I’m an Atlanta-based media professional specializing in public relations, marketing, and film production at the indie and corporate levels. I’ve worked in the film industry for the past 4 years, first starting out on <i>Ozark</i> as a production assistant—some projects I’ve worked on include but are not limited to<i> Tell Me Lies</i>,<i> The Out-Laws</i> (2023), <i>The Righteous Gemstones,</i> <i>Stranger Things</i>, and many more.
I currently work with the creative marketing agency My Global Presence specializing in PR and media outreach, helping clients think outside the box for business strategy. As a smaller film with big firm resources and clientele, our team can help you identify your needs and offer those services to not only fill in any gaps but to elevate your brand and business. If you need help marketing your business and services, please check out https://myglobalpresence.com/.
My goal is to help create, communicate, and innovate through media production, art, and connection. With that, I recently launched a film production company called Shame Productions. Whether that be TV/films, writing, running a bizarre ad or shooting a music video, I value keeping creative work in the United States made by real people—so if you feel similarly, feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected] or check out https://skylarrhame.com/!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I don’t think there’s an exact science or formula to having success in a creative field—I think that is one of the neat things about it! So many different kinds of people with incredibly diverse backgrounds, personalities, mentalities, etc. have found similar success in the same areas.
Although I can’t speak to traits or areas of knowledge, I feel as if the three skills that have been the most impactful in my career are learning when to pause, take a step back, and listen.
Admittedly, being able to pause is an ability I didn’t know I needed for the first 24 years of my life. When there’s an incredibly stressful situation staring you right in the face, instead of panicking and going into overload mode, giving yourself a beat helps slow things down. In my limited experience, I find that it usually helps me wrap my head around an issue quicker—hence being able to fix it quicker.
Same goes with taking a step back. Being heated, overwhelmed or frenetic only creates room for more problems and potential outbursts. With outbursts, there is risk of burning any meaningful professional connections you’ve made. Taking a step back = more productivity, better working relationships.
To no one’s surprise, listening is the most valuable and necessary skill of all. Being able to listen is being able to know exactly what a client wants. It’s being able to understand things the first time around. It’s being able to show you’re a valuable asset. It’s being able to learn more. (And honestly, I’m still working on this one.) To improve the quality of your professional connections—and interpersonal ones—try to listen more.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I’m always open to collaborating with people across all levels of filmmaking—whether a scrappy low-budget indie or a huge Hollywood movie. For me, it’s less about the size of the project and more about the energy of the people involved. I’ve found so much community with people I’ve worked with and because of that, I value working with folks who are adaptable, bring a positive and constructive attitude to the table, and can adjust to the ever-changing circumstances of creating something cool. Filmmaking can be unpredictable, so being able to roll with changes while still keeping the environment fun and creative is huge. If someone reading this feels like that’s their energy and they’re interested in working together, please feel free to reach out!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://skylarrhame.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skyrhame/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skylar-rhame-37905887/
Image Credits
Skylar Rhame
