by Lisa Cybaniak
You can also listen on…
There are no two ways about it. Because of coronavirus and COVID19, we are living in unprecedented times where, for most of us, our entire way of life is shifting. Whether it’s working from home, being out of work all together, or not being able to have physical contact with other people, we are all adjusting to a different life, however short lived it may be.
Today we are talking about the importance of being flexible at this time – with ourselves, our relationships, our businesses, and with others. None of us knows what the future holds, and for many, this could be a great time for growth, whether it be personally or professionally. And for others, it may be the perfect time to take stock of what’s important.
Hannah Kinkead is a costume designer working and touring with some of the largest names in the Pop, Rock and Hip-Hop industries, including Madonna, Beyoncé and KISS. And if that isn’t enough, in 2017 Hannah founded Go for Wardrobe, offering seamster’s, wardrobe assistants and dressers to touring artists in the music and theatre industry.
Meet Hannah Kinkead
It goes without saying that the music and theatre industries are on hold, like everything else in the world right now. And that means that Hannah, like many others, is homebound – grounded, if you will.
Hannah is the perfect person to talk to at this time because she knows exactly what it’s like to have to shift gears quickly. She must adapt to life on the road, travelling the world, creating styles for shows, photo shoots and music videos, working alongside celebrity stylists and major fashion designers and couture fashion houses.
But when the latest tour is over, she also must adapt to “normal” life, integrating herself back into her life with family and friends. And while she does that, she also needs to recuperate from months of working without any days off, jet lag, and adjusting to the differences of living away from her husband to now spending quality time together daily.
While we are all adjusting over the last couple of weeks to this new way of life, this is something Hannah faces all throughout the year. And, her business Go for Wardrobe is frozen, as are so many other businesses at this time. So, who better to have on today’s show?
She’s giving us her top tips for adjusting, whether you’re slowing down or if life as you know it has stopped cold.
So, let’s dive right in!
Be open and flexible
We literally have no idea what the future holds. That means we don’t know what opportunities may be laying ahead.
Hannah describes how she got into touring with major artists – with Madonna, in fact, and it began with a bowl of lucky charms!
She had absolutely no clue that a simple bowl of cereal would open a door for her like no other. Just like none of us know what doors may open for us either during this time, because of it, or after it. So, remain flexible and open to opportunities.
The best way to do that is to shift your mindset so you are looking at your experiences as potential opportunities.
Keep a schedule
When Hannah is off tour, one of the first things she does is set a schedule for her days. She learned long ago that this is one of the best ways for her to adjust to the drastic change in pace, expectations, environment and lifestyle.
If you are working from home, then make sure to schedule in your breaks. When you’re working at the office, you take small breaks throughout the day to get up and grab a coffee. You also get up to walk to the printer, or to get something from someone else’s desk.
Working from home means you likely don’t need to get up from your desk for much of anything. So, schedule in small breaks for yourself.
If you’re not working right now, scheduling your day is vital. Do what makes you feel good. Plan out what you’d like to do each day and schedule it out, so you slow down and take longer periods of time to do those activities. Hannah has been gardening, cleaning, and doing her nails since her tour with KISS was postponed due to coronavirus.
Establish boundaries
Boundaries are the one thing Hannah would advise you NOT be flexible with at this time. Honour what it is you need right now. If you are stressing out when watching or listening to the news, then switch off for a couple days.
It’s okay to literally turn off your phone, mute the breaking news, and avoid news channels.
Hannah learned to set boundaries for her family and friends when she first returns home from touring, long ago. Because she’s close with her family and would be gone for months at a time, they would naturally be excited to see her upon her return.
But Hannah would be jet lagged and struggling to adjust to the slower pace, lack of a schedule, and time with her husband. So, she established a boundary with her loved ones – she takes an entire week to readjust to life at home before going out to spend time with others.
Of course, none of us can leave our homes right now, but that doesn’t mean that we have to be so flexible with our availability that we jump on social calls at any hour.
If you need to, limit your virtual interactions to certain days, or just when you’re feeling up for the conversations.
Be flexible with your time
Now is the time to slow down. There is no rush. You can be more considered now with your time, so take advantage of this.
How many times have you been on holiday and vowed to incorporate a slower pace into your life? I know I do this every single time I’m on holiday. And what happens as soon as I return home? It seems I’m busier than ever catching up with everything I missed while away!
Use any extra time you have to reset and regroup. Take care of yourself, enjoy your time with you. Now is this perfect time to invest in self-care routines, creating habits that foster mental, emotional and physical well-being.
And of course, schedule in time for your friends, virtually. As mentioned above, honour yourself and make yourself available to your friends when it feels right for you.
More from this episode
Hannah goes into so much more detail in this episode, sharing the full story of how a bowl of lucky charms landed her on a tour with Madonna, what life is like touring as a costume designer with celebrity artists, how she makes her marriage work from afar, and exactly how she adjusts when she returns home.
Press play on the episode above to catch all the details of this episode!
Follow Hannah
Get more information about Go for Wardrobe and Hannah’s work from her websites. You can also follow Hannah on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
Want to help this podcast? Follow us, subscribe, and leave a comment on this, or any other episode!
Are you ready to turn your Anxiety to Action? Get my free cheat sheet for entrepreneurs here!
Join my free 30-Day Challenge for emotional well-being!
Get 50% off your first Audio Book!
Voice over credit: Shari Vandermolen. Shari is offering a free download of one of her songs to the fans of the Life Like You Mean It podcast! Just visit www.GiftFromShari.com and tell her where to send it. Shari’s debut album is available for streaming on all the major platforms including Spotify and iTunes.
Top Picks
Freebies for You!
