Summer is the time of year when a lot of us can start feeling uninspired when it comes to our acting. The hustle has ceased and the heat makes it hard to feel motivated to do more than lay at the pool. Here are some tips to stay inspired during the dry times!

1. Set goals with deadlines for yourself. It’s harder to slack off on a To Do when there is a due date in your calendar for it.
2. Tell someone about it. It’s even harder to slack off when you have to be accountable to someone else.
3. Sign up for a class. Nothing gets me more revved up than getting coached by a great teacher.
4. See the type of work that first made you want to be an actor. Was it a big cheezy Broadway musical? Was it a Western? Revisit these old favorites!
5. Spend time with like-minded people. When I’m feeling unmotivated, a coffee date with my favorite actress friend always inspires me to get on my A game.
6. Do something just for fun. Tape those sides off Showfax you loved but never got the audition for. Want to do them with a Russian spy accent? Even more fun!
7. Find a mentor. Even if you can’t find someone in your immediate space, pick one from history. Love Lucille Ball? Read her biography. Obsessed with Elvis Presley? Watch a great documentary about his life and career!
8. Practice gratitude. Write a list of all the opportunities and accomplishments you’ve had thus far in 2013. Seeing how far we’ve come can often inspire us to keep going!
9. Volunteer. Do what you love doing for a good cause. Help your little brother make a student film or volunteer to lead an improv workshop at the local YMCA.
10. Just work. Yup, sometimes the best way to get re-inspired is to just show and work. Some days it’s harder than others, but it’s no doubt that the more hours we put in, the more we get out!

Break legs,
Megan