The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, one of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture on the planet, takes place each August. With over 3,000 shows taking place across the city, there’s a great buzz and lots of excitement but it can also feel overwhelming at times. When visiting the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, it’s crucial to remember to look after your wellbeing.
We’ve put together some tips that you may find help you to avoid getting anxious, exhausted or feeling overwhelmed this August. Some of these tips might seem obvious, but you’re not in your usual routine and a reminder can be useful.
Prioritise sleep
We understand that when you’re visiting the festival, you may only be in Edinburgh for a short period of time and can feel like you must take advantage of every moment. The truth is that there’s so much happening throughout the entire month that you’re not going to be able to see it all or do it all. And that’s ok! It’s important to get a good night’s sleep – things can seem brighter when you’ve had a good rest.
If you’re performing into the early hours, it’s still important to establish a routine, to ensure you are getting enough sleep and feeling your best.
Try to eat healthily
If you’re out exploring the city it can be easy to end up skipping meals or relying on convenience food. There’s lots of burger, pizza and toastie cheese sandwich stalls out there. But there’s also more healthy places to buy food. You can still eat out, just get something a little more healthy – eat some vegetables!
Eating three meals a day is a good way to boost your wellbeing as it can improve your mood and give you energy. Carrying some snacks with you can help if hunger hits between meals.
Take time for yourself
It’s okay to take a break. At times you may feel you need a quiet moment to yourself away from the crowds so you can gather your thoughts and take a deep breath.
Taking time to relax and de-stress can mean an improvement in your mood, brain function, and memory. Relaxation will allow your mind and body to repair itself.
Manage your expectations
In all the buzz and excitement, it can be challenging to balance your own goals and wellbeing with all that going on. It’s important you manage your expectations and understand you might not be able to do everything you want. Set some achievable targets as part of your Fringe planning to avoid pushing yourself too far. This could mean limiting nights out and factoring some down time into your day. And remember to learn as you go.
Find more support and resources in Edinburgh
Find loads more support and advice for the Fringe and beyond on iThrive, Edinburgh’s online mental health portal.
Our Thriving at the Festivals resource is here to help you find accessible support in the city, as well as self-help guides and activities to help you manage your mental health and wellbeing at the Festivals.