Making films can be stressful. I gained and lost weight while making Abandoned Allies — mostly due to the stress associated with independent filmmaking. Eventually I got fed up with being overweight and I finally lost about forty pounds.

Here are a five things I learned along the way:

  • Make exercising a habit.
    By making exercise a habit, you won’t fight against it every time. Habits are things we don’t think about because we do them so frequently. Exercise will become so ingrained in your daily schedule that you almost feel lost without it. No matter what exercise you enjoy, find a way to make it a habit. Do it. It’ll help you think about that film clearly. (Get more info from lifehack.org.)
  • Stock your fridge and pantry like a healthy vending machine.
    Filmmaking requires a lot of energy, which you can get from healthy foods. Keep things like fruits and vegetables in places they are easy to see and grab. Put them at the front of the fridge and pantry so you’re more likely to reach for them when you’re hungry, bored, or processing information.  (Get more info from Real Simple.)
  • Cook things that freeze well.
    You may not have enough time to cook while you’re making a film; however, if you set aside time to cook on a certain day you make things that freeze well and eat them later. That way you have meals ready when you need them most, and there’s less to clean up later. Soups, stews, chili, pancakes, and sausage are some of my favorite things to freeze for later when I’ll be too tired or busy to cook. (Get more info from Martha Stewart.)
  • Get enough rest.
    Sometimes making a film means loosing sleep — I get it. But it’s been proven that lack of sleep leads to overeating, so do what you can to protect your sleep schedule. Study your sleep cycles to learn how much sleep makes you feel refreshed. Is it eight hours? More? Then aim for that amount of sleep on a regular basis. When you lose sleep, you’re more likely to do things like drink too much coffee or eat sugary, unhealthy foods — things that make you temporarily feel more awake and alert. (Get more info from Huffington Post.)
  • Do something else.
    When making a film, your mind is probably working over time. Whether you’re killing down time on set or trying to plan ahead for challenges, filmmaking can get exhausting. Find ways to refresh your mind by doing something unrelated. Call a friend that loves to talk and catch up for a while. Download a new game to play. Read a dirty novel. Stop editing video and go play fetch with your dog. For the love of all things holy, just stop what you’re doing and go do something else. When you do return to the task at hand, you might be much more energetic and optimistic about it.

These are just a few things I learned to stay healthy while making a film. I have a long way to go, of course, but I’m working towards getting even healthier. If you have tips to share, please do! I’d love to hear them.