Non-Negotiable’s with the lovely Angharad George-Carey
Angharad George-Carey is a film and TV producer, director, and writer. She is the founder of Three Dragons Productions.
Being self employed is a constant juggle of managing time, productivity and also switching off. How do you do this?
So - I didn’t used to be very good at this - but had a bit of a shock this summer when I became ill with the shingles due to pushing myself too hard. And when I say this I don’t actually mean physically, I mean mentally, emotionally. My brain never ever ceases or knows how to actually switch off. Working in film and TV I’d complain to my housemate that even watching shows was work. And I felt guilty about not reading books that were about subject matters my projects were telling. For the first time in years I took August off - again, not psychically, but emotionally. I had been on holidays many times along the years during the month of August, but had the curse of guilt and feeling undeserving of it. This was constant. So, most turning temporarily into an Untouchable from The Last Of Us, I promised my mind to learn how to switch off. Once and for all. Not to sort of switch off, but really to give my body and brain the rest it needed, but had forgotten how to do.
All of us self-employers have some residual guilt which follows our every move if we’re ‘not working’ or ‘not being productive’ or ‘not networking’ in our every spare moment. Unlike (most) of our office working comrades, who get a literal clear cut off point to then go and enjoy the weekend, time and working hours for the self-employed or the company-owners becomes very blurred and boundaries are difficult to make. Our income comes from a continuous state of hustling. However - no complaining - because we’ve chosen this, right? This is how we’ve chosen to live our lives. So, we have to make it work for our bodies….and minds.
The way I have now, finally, learnt to do this - although do not claim to have perfected it in any way - is to start trying to ‘listen’ to my body in a way I used to totally ignore. Trite it may sound, but it's a total revelation. I’ll give you an example of how to do this. Weekends are a great opportunity to get in some extra work you didn’t manage in the week, or to feel fully on top of things before the start of the next, or to do the work you’re not being paid for but actually is the main gig. However, I will now only do this if I want to. If I’m doing it because I feel I should then I have fallen back into the trap of being caged-in by guilt and a fear of ‘not doing enough’. Much like the fact we all learn as we get older to better say no to social plans, we must do this with work too. And the way to tell is just to listen. If you want to, if you don’t. And not to feel guilty if the latter.
Weekends aren’t the only time however I have learnt to grant myself some guilt-free fun. If I feel I need a bit of a break mid-week, and am able to take it, I do. I now try to avoid sitting in-front of my laptop working myself into an even more stressful state due to the fact I’m too stressed, too tired or just not in the mindset to get anything really achieved. This includes forcing myself to try and be creative when I’m totally depleted. I take the morning, or afternoon, off. To myself. I go for a walk and listen to something that feeds me in some way - there is never a pattern here of what that is. I just have to work it out on the day - ‘what do I actually feel like listening to?’. Often, as if like magic, my mind finds its groove again. However sometimes it's just a day to take off, and that’s great. It’s human. It’s normal. There are, of course, days/weeks this isn’t possible due to what’s going on, however, if you can do it…do.
So, to conclude, I know we’ve heard it a thousand times, but we’re most productive, creative and inspired when we feel good. To feel good, we need to listen to what we need, and as much as possible, give it to ourselves. So take breaks, enjoy your weekends, and indulge in activities purely for pleasure. Don’t keep chasing some race that exists only in your own head. Push yourself, yes, challenge yourself, yes, set monthly goals and be psychopathic with your to-do list. But also work out when to stop, for a moment, and enjoy achieving nothing at all.
Do you work best in the morning or evenings?
I am a morning lark - not a night owl. I love being in bed at 9pm and have always struggled with late night working. I used to envy those at University who could sit in the library all night long as I felt it was so much more romantic, studenty and ‘utopian’ to my 5am alarm. It’s just not me at all. I recently learnt that there is a reason behind the fact that some of us have our energy in the mornings and some of us have our energy in the evenings. I won’t bore you with why - google Mathew Walker if you want to find out more - but I am a morning person. Always have been, forever will be. I don’t even like taking a work call after 5pm…it’s weird. So, to further the answer from question one - work out which you are, and utilise it. Know your strengths. I’m currently in the midst of writing a book, so because I often have meetings and work for other projects throughout the working day, I am finding my time to get it done at the crack of dawn. It is ironically the only thing that’s paying me at the moment - and there I am squishing it in at the top - but early morning is my favourite time of the day anyway and I find those precious hours are so quiet and peaceful to think. I wake at 5am and get 3 hours in before the day has really stirred. However, what’s important to mention is that I’m in bed by 9.30pm. Not going to bed at midnight and waking at 5am. Sleep is very important to this routine and longevity; whichever end you sit.
What are 3 things you always have in your fridge?
Feta cheese
Oat Milk - dark blue Oatley ;)
Broccoli
Weird combo. But they’re always there.
Your travel content is always gorgeous. Hacks for surviving a long haul flight?
I love flying long-haul, which is potentially quite a strange attribute of my personality. I just really vibe…the whole vibe. The infinite free cinema, the claustrophobic seat you get to claim as yours for a short-while, the food, the wine, the stewardesses and their friendly dispositions, and the forced break you have to take from your phone. Obviously I’ve had some pretty dire experiences, like we all have, but all in all…it's a firm pastime favourite.
So, my hacks would be:
Bring good headphones you can plug into the TV set
Take a toothbrush, toothpaste, face wipes and moisturiser to feel fresh for both the beginning and the end of the flight
Some people would say pop a sleeping pill, but I love watching all the free films and I really don’t want to miss the food so I’ll only sleep if I really should, or can’t help it. But sleep is good.
Always wear sunglasses, a cap and carry an extra jumper for when the sleep hits - I like my face to be totally hidden from potential ridicule
Wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off and don’t smell
Take a pair of long, cosy, sleeping socks and put them on immediately
Take a notebook and pen for when all your genius ideas come to mind straight after your first sip of wine
Pre-download a full really well reviewed investigative podcast that will keep you going when your eyes have had enough of the really stark white light on the TV screen
Take a phone charger so you can listen it to
Wear comfortable clothing….but I feel we all know that
What does wellness look like to you?
Wellness to me looks like feeling good. It’s my state of mind. This means I do things that actually are good for me. I love to run, be outside, eat well, sleep well and feel strong. All the usuals. But I also love to feel inspired and that often comes from conversations with strangers, or with friends over a bottle of wine, or cooking on my own at home alone, listening to music and not speaking for a whole evening, or laughing, continuously, at all times, if possible. Wellness to me is all about enjoyment. Stimulating the senses. Feeling fed, heard and watered. And that comes to me in many forms.
When do you feel at your most creative?
In the morning on a run or a walk when no one else is anywhere in sight. My mind becomes clear and endless. I love it.
Thank you so much Angharad!
Follow Angharad on Twitter here
x