Happy New Year to all our Get Repped community! January is the perfect time to reflect on where you are in your acting journey and where you want to be by December. While many people focus on personal resolutions like hitting the gym or cutting back on caffeine, the new year is equally valuable for setting professional intentions.

As actors, we're essentially running our own small businesses. There's no boss setting targets or scheduling our training. That autonomy is liberating, but it also means our growth depends entirely on the habits we build. The good news? Small, consistent actions compound over time. A few thoughtful changes to your weekly routine can lead to more auditions, stronger performances, and meaningful industry relationships.

Here are five habits worth adopting in 2026.

1. Invest in Your Craft

Drama school gives you an intensive foundation in voice, movement, and technique, but graduation isn't the finish line. Skills fade without practice, and the industry's expectations evolve constantly. If you've been feeling disconnected from your training or a bit rusty in the room, now is the time to address it.

Consider joining a weekly drop-in class where you can work on scenes, stay sharp, and connect with other working actors. Many cities have excellent ongoing workshops that fit around audition schedules. If you're earlier in your journey, short courses at established institutions like RADA, LAMDA, or the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama offer focused training without a multi-year commitment.

One investment that's transformed my own audition process is working with an acting coach. Rather than attending regular classes, I bring my coach in specifically when I have significant auditions. They serve as a sounding board for character choices, help me identify blind spots in my self-tapes, and push my work to a level I couldn't reach alone. The result has been noticeably better tapes and more recalls. Most coaches are happy to work on a pay-as-you-go basis, so you're only paying when you need them. Social media is a great place to find coaches whose approach resonates with you.

The actors who book consistently aren't necessarily the most talented. They're the ones who never stop training.

2. Dedicate Time to Building Industry Relationships

Talent matters, but so does visibility. Casting directors can't call you in if they don't know you exist, and agents can't champion you if they've never heard your name. Yet many actors treat networking as something that happens passively, hoping the right people will somehow discover them.

A more effective approach is to schedule dedicated time each week for relationship building. Even twenty minutes a day can yield significant results over a year. This might involve researching which casting directors work on projects suited to your casting, sending a brief, professional introduction, or keeping agents updated on your recent work and upcoming performances.

For agent relationships specifically, playing the long game often pays off. Top-tier agents are selective and may not have space on their books right now, but that doesn't mean the door is closed forever. Building a relationship with an associate or assistant, keeping them informed about your career progress, and demonstrating professionalism over time can eventually lead to representation when the timing is right.

The same principle applies to casting directors. They're your primary gateway to work, yet many actors undervalue these relationships. Introduce yourself to CDs working in your casting bracket. Attend press nights and industry events where appropriate. When you do get in the room, be someone they want to bring back through hard work and professionalism.

Platforms like Get Repped exist precisely to make these connections more accessible. Rather than spending hours hunting for contact details or wondering which agents are actively seeking clients, you can focus your energy on crafting thoughtful approaches and presenting your best work. The easier you make networking, the more likely you are to actually do it consistently.

3. Maintain Your Physical and Mental Readiness

Acting is a physical profession. Whether you're on stage for a three-hour play or navigating an emotionally demanding screen role, your body and mind need to be ready to deliver. When that dream audition arrives, you want to walk in feeling energised and focused, not depleted and foggy.

This doesn't require extreme fitness regimes. Simple, sustainable habits make the biggest difference:

Prioritise sleep. Consistent, quality rest improves memory retention for lines, emotional availability in scenes, and general resilience during intense shooting schedules.
Move regularly. Find physical activity you genuinely enjoy, whether that's yoga, swimming, dance classes, or morning walks. Movement keeps you agile and helps manage the anxiety that often accompanies auditions.
Eat well most of the time. You don't need a perfect diet, but fuelling your body with decent nutrition helps maintain steady energy levels throughout long casting days.
Protect your voice. Stay hydrated, warm up before intensive vocal work, and address any strain early rather than pushing through.

Mental health deserves equal attention. This industry involves constant rejection, financial uncertainty, and long periods of waiting. Develop practices that keep you grounded, whether that's meditation, therapy, journaling, or simply maintaining friendships outside the industry who remind you that your worth isn't determined by your last audition.

4. Collaborate and Create

Waiting for permission to act is a trap. While you're hoping for that agent call or audition invitation, you could be creating your own opportunities and building material that serves your career.

If your showreel needs updating, or you don't have one at all, make this the year you address it. Reach out to film schools seeking actors for student projects. Connect with emerging directors and writers who need collaborators for their short films. These partnerships benefit everyone involved and can produce genuinely impressive work.

A few important notes on collaboration: do your due diligence before committing to any project. Meet the team, review their previous work, and trust your instincts. Your time is valuable, and not every opportunity is worth pursuing. Look for projects that are well-organised, have clear schedules, and offer something meaningful for your career, whether that's footage, credits, or experience in a particular genre.

Theatre offers similar opportunities. Many acclaimed productions started in humble circumstances. The Play That Goes Wrong began at the Red Lion in Islington before becoming a West End and Broadway phenomenon. Fringe theatre lets you work on your craft, build credits, and develop relationships with directors and fellow actors who may go on to significant careers.

The actors who create their own work develop skills beyond performance: producing, networking, problem-solving, and leadership. These capabilities make you more valuable to everyone you work with.

5. Embrace Life Beyond Acting

Here's something drama schools don't always emphasise: the best actors are interesting people. Your life experience directly feeds your work. The more you've seen, felt, and understood about the human condition, the more you bring to every character you play.

Make 2026 the year you pursue genuine curiosity. Travel if you can. Learn a new skill, whether that's a language, a sport, or an instrument. Read widely, not just plays and scripts, but novels, history, and science. Watch films outside your usual preferences. Observe people in their natural environments and practice deep listening.

If you're feeling burnt out or disillusioned with the industry, consider this permission to step away temporarily. I've left acting multiple times to pursue other work, and each time I've returned refreshed and with new perspectives to bring to my performances. The industry didn't leave me behind. It was still there, and I came back better for the break.

Acting rewards those who live fully. Your unique experiences and worldview are what make your interpretations distinct from every other actor up for the same role.

Making It Stick

The difference between a resolution and a habit is consistency. Rather than attempting dramatic overhauls that fade by February, focus on small, repeatable actions:

Block out specific time slots in your calendar for networking and training.
Set realistic targets you can actually maintain alongside your survival job and auditions.
Track your progress so you can see the cumulative effect of your efforts.
Find accountability partners who share your professional goals.

The actors who build sustainable careers aren't necessarily the most talented or the luckiest. They're the ones who show up consistently, year after year, refining their craft and nurturing their relationships.

Here's to a brilliant 2026. Now go make it happen.