Derek Hough Masters The Art Of Turning ‘Busyness’ Off

Derek Hough’s days are often non-stop for both his body and mind, so he knows just how important it is to unwind at the end of the day.

In addition to winding down after a long day, Hough also wants to ensure he’s not doing anything to cause himself any grief, which is where Pepcid Max Icy Cool Mint joins the chat.

The “Dancing with the Stars” judge keeps busy all day long and knows just how important it is to give himself a break and turn the “busyness” off.

“I have a really busy lifestyle, with my upcoming tour and with ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ there is a lot going on and my brain is buzzing throughout the day, so it’s really important for me to be able to turn that off at the end of the day. The best way for me to turn all the busyness off is to go home and snack and stream, you know what I mean – eat your favorite snacks and stream your favorite show,” Hough told The Blast exclusively.

“My end-of-the-day chill routine is usually getting home and being with my animals – as soon as I walk in the door my girl Luna and Roy just tackle me. And then I chill with either a hot tub or an ice bath, or just a hot shower, and then relaxing on the couch streaming something to switch off my brain.”

So what is Hough streaming and snacking on currently?

“I just watched ‘House of Dragon’ and ‘The Perfect Couple.’ I am currently watching ‘Rings of Power,’ which I love,” he said.

“As far as the snacks go, I am a chips and salsa man, it’s just an absolute go-to for me. I also enjoy a bowl of jalapenos. I don’t know if that sounds disgusting but I really will just eat them raw. I love them so much! And then a little bit of chocolate for that little something, something at the end of the day. That’s the rotation right there- I’m hitting all the temperatures – spicy, cool, sweet – which is why I also always need my Pepcid Max Icy Cool Mint.”

While “snacking and streaming” is Hough’s go-to to unwind after a long day, sometimes the snacking gives him heartburn. So to ward that off, he relies on Pepcid.

“Sometimes I can eat a snack that doesn’t always agree with me and it can give me that heartburn, so to manage the heartburn, I always rely on Pepcid Max Icy Cool Mint. It works super fast. It lasts all night, unlike antacids, and it just gives you that instant cooling sensation, which is great. Pepcid helps me chill and enjoy my snacking and streaming at the end of a busy day. I call it ‘Chilling with Pepcid,'” the told The Blast.

“I also love spicy foods, like jalapenos and hot wings. It’s funny because all the things I love don’t always love me and so to have a product that helps me enjoy myself is really important.”

Hough said Pepcid is also important for him to have when he is on stage performing or judging “DWTS.”

“The last thing I want is to experience heartburn right before I go on that stage,” he explained. “You know, when that burning creeps up right when you’re about to speak or are trying to sign and it’s extremely uncomfortable, so I really always have Pepcid Max Icy Cool Mint on hand to give me that relief and that cooling sensation so I can do my job the best I possibly can.”

Always being busy, Hough knows what a toll that can take on your mind and body. He shared some tips to help keep a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

“Breathe, take a moment to breathe. It sounds so ridiculous but you know, we don’t consciously breathe. Take a moment to just focus on your breath and stay present,” he said. “When you’re busy, you’re always thinking about what’s to come. What do I need to work on? What do I need to do? I know, I certainly do. I’m always worrying about what’s next and I should be doing this, or I should be doing that, but to take a moment and stop and be present is important. Be right here in this moment and that’s good for your emotional and mental wellbeing.”

As far as physical well-being, Hough said it’s important to stay active and moving.

“I think we’re very still with our bodies and busy in our minds and we need to switch that around and get busy with our bodies and a bit more still in our minds,” he added. “The way you move your body affects the way you feel, so just a simple walk or a little run or even just getting on the floor to do some push-ups is impactful, get the blood flowing. Even if you’re busy, don’t stop moving.”

One thing Hough said he learned along the way in his career that he wished he had known earlier was “understanding other people’s jobs” because it’s a “team effort.”

“When you start to learn that it’s a huge team effort then things start to blend for you and each part starts to make sense to help your role in the project or production, or whatever it may be,” he explained. “You aren’t just standing there doing something alone. You are all a team.”

For Hough, understanding everybody’s jobs helped him to “articulate” and “communicate” with the rest of the team to help create an “amazing environment.”

When Hough is judging on “DWTS,” there are particular things he’s looking for in the performance.

“Everything. Not to make that difficult for contestants, but I really am looking at all aspects,” he said. “It’s a combination of things – it’s choreography, it’s music choice, it’s personality, it’s charisma, it’s technique, it’s connecting, you know, not just connecting with us but connecting with the audience.”

Hough is about to begin his first holiday tour – “Dance for the Holidays,” which will be going to 40 cities across the country.

“It’s live music, amazing dancers, choreography, costumes, lighting, and big, big production,” he said. “So I’m really excited about that. It’s going to be just an incredible time and I love the holiday season.”

As for what he hasn’t accomplished yet but wants to in the near future, Hough said there are a few things.

“Broadway! I know it’d be a huge commitment but it’s definitely something in the future I hope for,” he told The Blast.

“Directing as well. I’ve directed some things in the past like short format, but taking on more would be exciting. Being a choreographer is like being a director and that’s what I’ve learned – with choreography you’re creating movement, you’re blocking, you’re working with characters, you’re trying to tell a story, and you’re working really closely with the camera, so it kind of naturally moves me into wanting to direct next.”