Salon owners tend to work extra hard to achieve success in business, but many times miss finding a balance in managing their operation and personal life. In the salon industry, it takes a lot of work and tireless dedication to get to such a level. In the uphill battle to build a business, unfortunately, many salon owners find themselves facing exhaustion and even burnout along the way.
Burnout is described best as a human reaction to stress and activities that continue for an extended period without a break. As people focus much of their energy and attention solely on their business, burnout can happen and will likely be detrimental to their mental and physical health.
As a group, salon owners tend to hold out longer than most people in the fight against burnout. They have a natural optimism and passion for their business, and a need always to put on a pleasant front, which often masks their discouragement and despair. Unfortunately, most at-risk salon owners keep going, trudging along without dealing with the underlying issues that are affecting their ability to cope or work effectively.
Here are some of the symptoms of burnout to watch out for:
Sleeplessness
If you are getting less than six and a half hours of sleep per night, you are doing your self a disservice. Scientists at UCLA found in a study that sleep deprivation often interferes with the ability of some brain cells to function well and work to communicate with each other. Medical professionals proclaim that a lack of sleep can compromise a person’s ability to make complex decisions, form memories, and focus, which contributes to an above-average mortality rate. If you want to perform better with longevity, prioritize your sleep. MIT Sloan Management Review recognizes that regular sleep is the best antidote for any fatigued or stressed-out workforce.
Procrastination
If you put off essential items on your to-do list and get obsessed with trivial matters instead, you’re likely responding to stress and exhaustion.
The best way to overcome procrastination is to find better means to manage your time. First, identify each project that you need to complete, outline what needs to happen to accomplish the tasks, and then break things down into smaller projects. Assign an optimistic but realistic number of tasks per day or week, work hard to achieve the assignments in the time allotted, and then find ways to reward yourself upon completion. Consider taking a 10-minute breather, going for a quick walk, actually sitting down to eat lunch, etc.
Getting Snappy
If you find yourself snapping at your team or family, you are likely reacting to stress. Taking things out on your workmates, family, or friends never ends well, so you’ll need to find ways to avoid being quick-tempered. Stop, breathe deeply in and out, and remember that the irritation that you feel toward others is not their fault. You’re reacting to a bigger problem. In the meantime, scale back on caffeine and take the time to burn off steam in other ways, like taking a brisk walk. You need such outlets both for your long-term health and for the sake of others around you.
Avoiding Self Care
If you’re not taking good care of yourself, the stress will take a toll on your health, eventually. It’s essential to have annual checkups, regular dental cleanings, daily exercise, and healthy eating habits. Think of your efforts as an investment in yourself. That investment in time will pay off with more clarity and increased productivity at work.
Facing Reality
If you can’t sleep, feel exhausted or hopeless, get sick often, or find yourself feeling incapable of running your business, you are showing signs of burnout. Any combination of these symptoms indicates a need for a change. That’s when you know it’s time to stop, evaluate, and address your issues. It’s hard to find the time, but the fate of your business and your health and well-being depend upon it.
Consider getting away for a long weekend away and clearing your head. Next, work to change some of your basic habits. Seek the help of a business adviser or salon coach to help set you on the right path. Find better ways to streamline your activities, make better use of your time, even automate your business, and then concentrate on ways to incorporate a daily self-care regime. Join a gym, take yoga classes, get regular massages, even book an occasional afternoon off, have drinks with friends, or take your spouse out on date night more often. Everyone involved will thank you for it!
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