Time Traveler: Month One
One month ago, my wife and I moved from Los Angeles to Barcelona. I’ve noticed advantages and disadvantages due to the time difference.
The following is my general weekday schedule, and below that, my thoughts on how the move has affected me… Forward! 9 Hours Into THE FUTURE!!!
| Los Angeles | Barcelona | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 PM | 7:00 AM | Rise and shine! |
| 10:30 PM | 7:30 AM | Morning stretches and hygiene |
| 11:30 PM | 8:30 AM | Light breakfast; Check emails for auditions |
| 12:00 AM | 9:00 AM | Walk; Buy daily groceries, bread, snack |
| 1:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Auditions; Work |
| 2:00 AM | 11:00 AM | Mid-day snack; Pre-lunch walk |
| 3:00 AM | 12:00 AM | Other Work Stuff; Creative Time |
| 5:00 AM | 2:00 PM | Lunch |
| 6:00 AM | 3:00 PM | More Creative / Work time |
| 9:00 AM | 6:00 PM | Exercise; Shower + Shave |
| 10:00 AM | 7:00 PM | Sessions; Auditions; Make it Rain! |
| 12:00 PM | 9:00 PM | Dinner |
| 1:00 PM | 10:00 PM | More work (if needed); TV Time |
| 3:00 PM | 12:00 AM | Bedtime! |
This schedule allows me to be available until 3 PM in Los Angeles and 6 PM in New York. For the majority of jobs, that works very well. There are exceptions, of course. I’ve already had one session with LA/Tokyo/Barcelona that presented some timing issues. But I can stand the occasional Midnight-2 AM gig 😉
Positives: Able to handle most jobs and auditions. More relaxed schedule. Greater Work/Life balance. More available for clients in Europe.
Negatives: May miss out on some RUSH!!! auditions. Not available for late day sessions, classes, or meetups.
Other thoughts: With the political climate in the US of A, I found my time being consumed with negative emotions, both my own and others, while living in LA. Since moving, the distance has allowed a greater sense of calm, and a broader perspective. Perhaps it’s because the consequences seem less. Or maybe it’s just not being under a constant barrage of news, posts, and tweets. Either way, I feel it’s better for my mental and physical health. It’s possible the same thing can be achieved without moving. Turn off the TV, social media, etc. But if that were the case, I wasn’t able to find a way to make it work while there.
Next stop… VOTING!
All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com