Rest Days and Recovery on Tour

Under the tent in General Santos, our week is simple. Shows run Tuesday to Sunday. Monday is always a rest day. No circus shows on Mondays. Ever.

People think a rest day is a lazy day. For me it is part of the job. Touring is a sport: long days, late meals, strange beds. The body you bring to the stage on Tuesday is the body you looked after on Monday.

I’m not a doctor and this is not medical advice. These are just the habits I already talk about on this blog.

1. Change the environment

When the head gets heavy, I change where I am. Stepping outside, getting some sunlight, getting out of the room. It sounds too simple. It works for me. I wrote about it in Mind Over Matter: Tips for Mental Wellness.

2. Breathe before you sleep

At night I do a simple meditation with deep breathing to unwind. After a week of shows, breathing is how I land.

3. Talk to real people

Small interactions matter. Greeting the receptionist. A real conversation with a friend or family, even a short one. On the road, the cast and crew become your family, but it is good to hear voices from outside the tent too.

4. Keep the training honest

My training is a four-day split with heavy weights: legs and core, chest and triceps, back and biceps, then shoulders, calves and traps. The full list is in my bodybuilding workout.

Consistency is the whole game, in the gym and on stage. Rest is part of that consistency, not the opposite of it.

5. Do things that bring you joy

Sleep enough. Eat properly. Do something that makes you happy and has nothing to do with work. A big plate of bulalo after a long day counts, as far as I’m concerned. Haha.

6. Ask for help when you need it

If you are struggling, talk to a mental health professional. There is no shame in it. Asking for help is part of taking care of yourself, on tour or at home.

Why Monday matters

Tired actors get dramatic offstage, not only onstage. One honest rest day keeps the other six honest too.

If you are coming to see EuroXtreme Circus ¡Carnavale! at Zaldivar Field before November 22, plan it from Tuesday to Sunday. Everything you need is in EuroXtreme Circus General Santos: I’m Under the Tent.

What does your rest day look like? Tell me in the comments.