With the first leg of the season – New York Fashion Week – complete, it should come as no surprise if anyone complains of exhaustion.
For models especially, fashion week is a period of heightened stress marked by a hectic schedule of casting calls, fittings, shows and many early mornings and late nights.
During this time, sleep and mindfulness are key to general health and well-being, recharging after a busy day, and maintaining one’s energy to keep going. This was the focus of last week’s talk hosted by the CFDA Health Initiative and Equinox with panelists Carolyn Murphy, Equinox Tier X Coach and sleep specialist Matt Delaney, and Meditation and Yoga Expert Michael Gervais. Vogue Senior Editor Lauren Mechling moderated the panel.
“For us to be at our optimal performance we need to take time to regenerate,” Niki Leondakis, CEO of Equinox Fitness Clubs, told the audience of models. “Regeneration boosts your body and your mind.”
Here are the top five takeaways from the thought-provoking discussion. Models traveling onto London, Milan and Paris, take note!
Figure out your threshold, find a balance, and create boundaries for yourself
Carolyn Murphy, who has been in this industry for 25 years, noted how the pressures and demands are very different now. “We had fax machines, there were no cell phones then,” she said. “It was a little bit more planned ahead of time and less spontaneous. We didn’t have technology. A snafu in the schedule rarely happened. Now, because you are so connected, it adds a lot of pressure on models. It’s inescapable.”
Manage your stress as it will affect your decision-making skills
Michael Gervais has been studying the ways in which stress affects the choices we make. “There are all these studies that show how meditators end up making better choices,” he said. “The parts of your brain that you train when meditating affect the part of your brain that helps you make decisions.”
Be consistent with your sleep
Matt Delaney pointed to the importance of a regular sleep schedule. “The more consistent you can make your bedtime, the better you are going to sleep,” he said. “Try and find the sweet spot when you feel tired and make that your time to sleep. Try to get insight into your habits and make that your routine.”
Michael Gervais added that even if you don’t immediately fall asleep, “if you just lie there and let your mind relax, you will still be getting so many benefits.”
For Carolyn Murphy, making the bedroom a haven is key—that means removing all tech devices out of the room, stop looking at a screen and pick up a book.
Think Positive Thoughts
If falling asleep is a challenge, it helps to think about something special. “Think of things that are really pleasant – like the beach – and it will get your body in a positive state,” Carolyn Murphy said.
Be mindfulness beyond meditation
“Mindfulness is so much more broad,” said Carolyn Murphy. “It’s in everything we do, it is all-compassing.”
Matt Delaney suggested looking look mindfulness in a broader sense. “l was at a conference where the speaker said ‘meditation is the app, and mindfulness is the operating system,’” he said. “Being focused on what you are doing is a huge benefit.”