Last summer, I posted a Productivity Prescription as a way to give myself and other self-employed artists and entrepreneurs a thorough plan of action each day. Now in the time of this COVID-19 crisis, it seems there's never been a better time to incorporate a strategy for productivity from a holistic perspective. 

I've made only minor updates from last summer's prescription and added a downloadable Productivity Prescription Chart for weekly planning. I hope this is helpful to someone. 

H O L I S T I C •  P R O D U C T I V I T Y • P R E S C R I P T I O N

I N S P I R A T I O N (Daily, 5-30 Minutes)

• Chant, Meditate, Affirm, Read

B R E A K F A S T (Daily)

• A nutrient rich start is a must to jump start a productive day centered on healthy choices. I like granola and fruit or a Protein Superfood smoothie with banana.

M O R N I N G • P E A K • P E R F O R M A N C E • P E R I O D (4 Hours, 5-6x Weekly)

• This is time to use the available daytime hours when the brain is powered up for productivity and the creative inner child is hungry for an outlet. 
• Use this time to scribble out ideas, build it, write it, have collaborative meetings, photograph, add detail to a script or plan, follow-up, reach out to new leads, try something new.
• Auditions, Rehearsals, Coaching

L I G H T • P H Y S I C A L • A C T I V I T Y (15 minutes, Daily. May be skipped on days of Heavy Physical Activity.)

• Take a break… And while you’re at it, move your body.
• Stretch those tight muscles. Do a few push-ups. Plank for 60 seconds. Cat and Cow, sun salutation, jump rope or do a couple or burpees. Or simply, take a little walk.

L U N C H (Daily)

• Because yum.

T H E • C H E C K - I N • P E R I O D (45 min, 4-5x Weekly)

• Catch up on the activity of industry leaders and mentors.
• Research the latest trends, news, data and predictions. 
• Use this time to support peers and encourage those next in line.

A F T E R N O O N • P E A K • P E R F O R M A N C E • P E R I O D (3 hours, 5-6x Weekly)

• Finishing strong preps you for the kind of consistency necessary for a productive artist life.
• Use this time to revise, add even more detail to a script or plan, get more specific, level up on goals already accomplished, analyze missed opportunities, edit, color correct, fine tune, upload, prepare prompts to head start the next Peak Performance Period.
• Auditions, Rehearsal, Coaching​

H E A V Y • P H Y S I C A L • A C T I V I T Y (3x Weekly, 45 Minutes May be accomplished A.M. or P.M.)

• Whether you're on Zoom with your favorite fitness pro, or exercising solo, committing to a lifestyle that incorporates an exercise regimen is a no-brainer these days. There’s too much supporting evidence to ignore.
• Bike, Yoga, Weight Train, Go for a run, Boxing, Calisthenics. Just Do It.
• (P.S. I know a guy who posts GREAT workout content on IG: https://www.instagram.com/yusef_brewster/

D I N N E R (Daily)

• There’s an opportunity here to finish strong with self-care.

G R A T I T U D E (5-30 Minutes, Daily)​

• Chant, Meditate, Affirm, Read
• Acknowledge a minimum of 5 things for which you are grateful.

If you find this useful or want to share ideas, please leave a comment down below!

What a time to be alive. To witness an unprecedented global pandemic in what is considered a modern world, an advanced 21st century society, has been a eye-opening experience thus far. From our worst, to our best, we human beings are revealing our latent truths.

I thought I'd use this time and space, live from my self-imposed isolation DAY 18, to reflect on a few topics: Corona & the Artist, Corona & Sickness, and Corona & Connection.

Corona & the Artist
Yesterday a friend of mine, who is one of our precious brick-and-mortar, old world, art-as-the-foundation-of-society types all but demanded that we--her circle of artist friends--create some work of art based on the times. "We have to," she emphasized. I paraphrased Nina Simone back to her: the job of the artist is to reflect the times in which we find ourselves. She added "to transform it. We are artists. That's what we must do." Agreed.

Admittedly... I was slightly less enthusiastic. For one, if there was ever a time I don't want anyone assigning me tasks I didn't sign up for, it's now. Plus, she would be the director in this outfit and I the actor... Again, being told what to do.... Nah, not right now. Now, is my time. 

But it had me thinking about what my call has been as an artist. I recognize these times when we are "Safer at Home" as one of possibility (pure potentiality - anyone?). It offers us a time for self-care, an opportunity to add to our skill set, to cultivate a creative garden. An actor friend of mine is posting monologues every week. "Actors act" he wrote in his caption. Musicians are playing on LIVE, dancers are choreographing virtually, my husband has found his way back to photoshop creating some DOPE digital art. So what is my artistic call? For now it's been a hodgepodge of a few things; but mainly, I've been called to reflect. Writing has always been my most instinctual method to reflect. We'll see what comes of it. Though more than an outcome, I want to focus on the process of putting thought to word. That's it, then. That's what it will be.

Below is the first of a Haiku poem thread I posted on twitter today (Part 1 of 4):

Corona & Sickness
So, ​I was fully accepting of my responsibility as a member of society to help mitigate the spread by keeping my ass at home. You know, flatten the curve. Not a problem. A few people I know have joked together about Quarantine not feeling so different from our normal lives. Haha. Accurate AF. 

But all joking went out of the window when I got a tickle in my throat that turned into a dry cough and a tight chest for 6 days.

My mind went there, naturally. What the *%#! 

Ihavebeenselfisolating Ihavebeenwashingmyhands Ihavedisinfectedeveryknobswitchandfacuet Doireallyhavethisfuckingvirus Howthehellamigoingtogettestediftherearenofuckingtests Maybeitsagoodthingifihaveitthenicandeveloptheantibodies Ibetternotgetsickerthanthis Whatifigetsickerthanthis Thisissomebullshit Iwillnotoverreacticanhealmyself Iamtiredofthisijustwanttofeelnormalagain Okayiamjustgoingtodoallthethings 

So I did all the things I have known, and heard, and read, and were recommended to me! And with the confidence that I am a healthy young person with a relatively strong immune system and without a fever, I marched into an ALL OUT battle with whatever the heck this was that was causing this attack. Here was my routine:

MORNING:
Vitamin C
Chew and swallow a slice of fresh ginger
Hot tea with local honey, lemon, ginger and peppermint drops
Black Seed Oil
Yoga

AFTERNOON:
Hot tea with local honey, lemon, ginger and peppermint drops
Multivitamin
Natural Cough Syrup

EVENING
Vitamin C
Hot tea with local honey, lemon, ginger and peppermint drops
Oil of Oregano
Steam! (Covered head over steaming water infused with lavender essential oil and peppermint drops)

After an honest 3 1/2 days straight of this routine... I was better. Then I was great. Now, I'm back to 100% and I could not be more grateful!! Being sick during this time was really messing with my mind. I was fighting hard not to be defeated by this, to climb out of the rabbit's hole it was sending me down. If I am being 100, 100... I feel like I experienced some mild version of this thing. Maybe, maybe not. But I can't be sure because I was never tested. So in isolation I will remain along with the rest of LA on lockdown until further notice. 

Here's a picture of ALL THE THINGS - my arsenal during the battle:

Corona & Connection
First things first:

Corona & Connection cont'd
Giuseppe and I (and Clover) got our dance on for 2 hours Saturday night. #clubquarantine was just what we needed! Beautiful experience. Then I checked back in on Wednesday night for his When We all Vote campaign with Michelle Obama and was inspired and moved that his party with a purpose resulted in 300K potential new registered voters (last I checked)!!

Get in on that: www.whenweallvote.com/dnice

This time has offered many new opportunities to connect with our communities and families. Have you? I've heard it time and time again. For me, I have talked to relatives I haven't in too long and friends that I hardly do. Shout out to Zoom!!

There's more to say here. But I think I've said enough for today. More to come...

This week I shot an episode of the landmark television show Grey’s Anatomy. With last night’s episode, Grey’s becomes the longest running medical drama in television history.

Luckily for me, I was filming my last day of an upcoming episode on the same day Grey’s achieved this astounding benchmark and had the chance to celebrate with cast, crew and producers. It was truly an honor!

My episode, entitled “The Whole Package” will air in early April on ABC. I’ll be sure to post details as they become available. Stay tuned!

At the end of last year I got the news that I #booked a co-star on CW’s new show All American.

Great B-Day gift!

I’ve been following the show’s first season and love everything about it! From the talented cast, headlined by veteran Taye Diggs, to the cinematography, to the music and clever hip-hop episode titles, the show is emersive in LA culture. It feels like the contemporary follow-up to Boyz n the Hood, the John Singleton classic that sits comfortably on my top 10 movies list. Yet, the show also gives you the sleek lens of teen culture in Beverly Hills. It’s a balance I can relate to, the title characters both battling the struggle of Double-Consciousness at different ages. It’s rich.

​I’ll be on-screen during a community wide initiative to clean up the local park, expressing concern for my young daughter. I had a great time on set with the entire production team. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season as a fan.

m.A.A.d. City Airs Wednesday, January 23rd on CW.

A few months back I published a Productivity Prescription that was equal parts encouragement and a new determination for myself. It basically prescribes, 4 hours of Peak Performance activity in the morning, 3 hours of Peak Performance activity in the afternoon, and specific time intervals for meals, exercise, and checking in. 

At the time that it was written, it hadn't quite been fulfilled but it served as a guide for how I wanted to structure my days. If I had to rate myself on a scale from 1-10 (10 being "Nailed it") based on how my typical day goes, I would say 7. Certainly, there are a few days that are 10s and some that are 5s. But, previous to writing that prescription, it was a consistent 4 or less. (I should qualify that score: 4 or less on days that I didn't have a rehearsal, or a performance scheduled.)

The point is, that I have finally been able to actualize the very simple wisdom of, "just keep moving forward" in my own life. Daily or Weekly To-Do lists are magical! They have served as a way to visualize my objectives and tasks, order them, hold myself accountable, and acknowledge where I stand on accomplishing them. I love an empty checkbox... about half as much as I love checking it! I have to say, the old-school pencil and paper route is the way to go here. It's more kinetic.

A friend of mine recently commented on my IG story, "You are so motivated! I need help with that." For me it's really about finding a balance between determining to move forward, even if just by one small step on a tough day, and giving myself a break by acknowledging the accomplishments that I have accumulated on a given goal. Some days I'm going to give 110%, and forget to eat, and get cramps in my fingers, and stress my eyeballs. Other days just setting one main goal that MUST be met, no matter what, is all I have to offer beyond the normal demands of the day. 

I recently talked to a guy who had been working extremely hard on a national campaign for an organization I am affiliated with. I watched as he pushed himself to the limit, month after month, topping the list in all the categories among his peers. It was tiring just observing all of his efforts. (And inspiring. It forced me to question if there was maybe a little more that I can do too.) After a hugely successful event, I had a chance to congratulate and thank him for his incredible efforts. And to my shock, he confessed that he once considered himself the laziest person he knew, that he was the best at avoiding work. I couldn't believe it. His secret was to attach his efforts in the organization to specific goals he wanted to achieve in other areas of his life. He self-incentivized! But what really changed was his determination.

I have SO many big goals. And sometimes its tough to see the forest for the trees. But I finally get it now. It's about breaking the big goals down into actionable smaller steps. And ticking them off, one at a time. 

One page at a time.
One person at a time.
One to-do at time.
One step after the other. Like a little engine on a track. 

There's some great printable To-Do lists online. Here's one I like: