Picture this…it’s maybe a month or two before your next hiatus between shows. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and you can’t wait to catch up on the million-and-a-half things that aren’t related to your current job. Things I think of as “Life management.”

– Unpaid bills (and laundry)

– Cleaning and organizing your closet

– Sending outreach emails and setting up networking lunches

– Going to networking events

– FINALLY putting together that diet & exercise routine (that you promise to stick to this time)

But then when hiatus comes one of two things happens:

1. You spend all your time freaking out about being unemployed and you frantically search for your next gig.
2. Sleep, napping, more sleep…and a whole lotta Netflix.

Luckily this habit pattern is reversible if you take some simple steps to plan ahead before your next hiatus and become more mindful of what’s stopping you from getting things done. And that’s just what I discuss in today’s interview with film & television editor Debby Germino.

Debby Germino has worked on numerous television series such as Fargo, Agents of SHIELD, Genius, and the Netflix original feature XOXO. She has also trained for and run multiple triathlons, endurances races, and last November she finished her very first Tough Mudder. Debby is also passionate about her mindfulness practice as well as sharing strategies to become a more balanced, happier, and more mindful editor at her blog Happiness In Training, all of which we discuss in detail in this episode.

Before we jump into today’s interview I wanted to give you a quick head’s up that by popular demand I will be reviving the Podcast Q&A format for an upcoming episode with Debbie as my new co-host, so if you have any specific questions you’d like to ask either Debby or me about how to survive the craziness of show business, whether it be about health, wellness, fitness, diet, sleep, productivity, or career advancement strategies and networking, please submit your question at optimizeyourself.me/podcastqa.

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Here’s What You’ll Learn:

• The ‘Soft Skills’ that Debby credits with her success in the industry.
• What led to her beginning to write about work-life balance and mindfulness.
• “Work-life balance is not about balancing the scales or having everything equal… it’s about managing priorities.”
• How to stay productive during hiatus and the importance of maintaining foundational routines.
• The 4 most important habits she maintains whether she’s working or not.
• Great tips on remaining flexible and honoring your body while maintaining habits & rituals that keep you effective and creative.
• Zack and Debby’s advice for anyone about to start a month-long or longer hiatus.
• How we tend to react in the face of change and how to “build that transition period in” to your plans while on hiatus.
• The importance of acceptance and self-compassion when we expect a lot from ourselves.
• The fallacy of the “I’ll be happy when…” story we tell ourselves and learning to love “where we are now”.
• Tips to get started being more fully present in the moment.

Useful Resources Mentioned:

How to Sleep Smarter | with Shawn Stevenson

Protecting Your Vision Using ‘Iris’ | with Daniel Georgiev

One Sleep Tracker to Rule Them All…the Oura Ring | with Chuck Hazzard

‘The Four Tendencies’ (aka The Matrix For Human Behavior) | with Gretchen Rubin

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Time Blocking (But Were Afraid to Ask) | with Amber De La Garza

The Myth of Work-Life Balance (And What to Strive For Instead) | with Apryl Schlueter

Work-Life Balance

Debby's Email: [email protected]

Our Generous Sponsors:

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Guest Bio:

Debby moved to Los Angeles in 2001 and landed her first job at a theatrical marketing agency in Burbank. It was there that she honed her Avid skills and learned the quick pace of trailer editing. But her real passion was to work on longer format editing and storytelling.

She got her first job in television as an assistant editor on Smallville, where she was promoted to editor after two seasons and began her editorial career. Since then she’s worked on numerous television series, including Fargo, Agents of SHIELD, AMC’s The Son, National Geographic’s Genius, and the Netflix Original Feature XOXO.

She has her own Medium publication called Happiness in Training where she writes articles about how to live a happier and more fulfilling life.

When she is not editing or writing, she is busy training for triathlons & endurance races, and practicing mindfulness meditation. She frequently spends her time off in Mammoth with her boyfriend and dog, hiking, snowboarding, and cycling.

Medium | Facebook | Instagram | Happiness in Training

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Glen McNiel. Special thanks to Krystle Penhall and Sarah Furie for helping to spread the love!

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content