The career of cosmetology has so much to offer its professionals: a rewarding, creative, opportunity with endless possibilities. But it doesn’t come without its challenges. Cultivating a creative, passionate environment while maintaining a successful economical future is no small feat, and the best professionals do it all while maintaining a positive attitude. Here are some tips to avoid and treat beauty industry burnout because let’s face it… we all reach that “over it!” point some time.
Recognize your Burnout Markers
Identify burnout before it happens! The easiest way to prevent burnout is to not reach the point of burnt… try to identify when you are maybe at a level of a “light roasting.” Getting a handle on it before it gets too bad is extremely helpful. Things to look for are:
Being tired after sleeping a full night. If the fatigue isn’t subsiding, then maybe it’s time to assess yourself for the remaining burnout signs.
- Lack of motivation
- Changes in appetite
- Complacency
- Weakened immune system
Each person is different and our burnout cues are equally unique. Gathering your personalized list of burnout markers is step one!
Make a Plan
Now that your markers have been identified, it’s time to figure out what to do next. Evaluate the bigger picture. Are you burning out from stress? Clients? Social battery running low? Money or business? Begin to separate yourself from the things you can and cannot control, and cut yourself some slack! Once you can identify one to four reasons why you’re burning out, you can learn to address them one by one and get back on track.
Too many clients and people running your battery down? Maybe a hike out in nature with no humans in sight would be helpful. Find things that you enjoy and do them. If you’d rather hand sanitize paper cuts than exercise in the woods, then maybe you could curl up on the couch and read a good book. Books not your jam? Bake that cinnamon roll recipe you saw on Pinterest 3 months ago. Regardless of the activity, do it for you!
Schedule Breaks
Take breaks! Allot yourself scheduled, blocked-out times to do errands and self-care. Even taking a nap can make all the difference in the world. It sounds easier said than done, but physically marking or blocking out time – similarly to how you would set up appointments – forces your brain to feel more obligated to complete the task. If you can swing it financially, give yourself a vacation! Or three! And schedule them throughout the year, leaving you things to look forward to during times of burnout and stress.
Denial
Are you too good for burnout? Many people ignore burnout and refuse to take it seriously. No matter how much you love your job or your clients or how passionate you are about your career, there is no amount of joy that your job can bring you that cures burnout for good. And that’s okay. Denying that you’re experiencing burnout is extremely common and often leads to worse, more intense burnout that can later turn into depression and anxiety disorders. Being honest and doing routine check-ins with ourselves can really provide the difference you need to feel better and more confident in the beauty industry.