an you imagine hearing constant criticism like this all day, every day? Some groomers don’t have to imagine it—they live it. And, the worst part is, all the demeaning, belittling comments and put-downs come from themselves!

Comments like these are called self-criticism and they can be psychologically devastating when a person is constantly subjected to them. Self-criticism is when you harshly evaluate yourself, focusing on the perceived flaws and shortcomings in your behavior, abilities and personality.

For some, it begins with negative comments and criticisms they receive while they are growing up. Those childhood experiences lead to feelings of worthlessness, a poor self-image, anxiety, guilt, self-doubt and more. As adults, these individuals struggle with a continuous internalized dialog of toxic self-criticism.

I got stuck on the words “used to be,” because upon entering the grooming profession, I hadn’t thought of an expiration date on my career. I invested myself wholeheartedly into this profession and put all my eggs in one basket; this was it, this was the plan. I never once thought about it being temporary nor had I thought about a completely different career path down the road. So, I had to ask them, “Why did you stop?”

The answer was always the same: “I couldn’t physically do it anymore.” I remember the first time I heard that response, it really went to my core. I remember thinking to myself, Will this be me? I didn’t have a plan B; there was no back-up career waiting for me down the road, so I had to make this work for the long haul. I had to figure out a way to avoid having my career become too physically exhausting.

“The vast majority of my self-care comes in the form of drinking water, going to bed early, working out, and cooking a healthy meal when it would be easier to eat out or skip it entirely,” Chelsea shares.

There’s science beyond these basics of self-care, which Debbie Kralik, RN, PhD, defines as, “The process of adapting to changes in life and learning ways to deal with all the physical, social, and lifestyle changes and disruptions.”¹

To start, take your senses into consideration when trying to create a pleasant workspace.

According to the Mayo Clinic, massage benefits can include: reducing stress and increasing relaxation; reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension; improving circulation, energy and alertness; lowering heart rate and blood pressure; and improving immune function. While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found massage may also be helpful for anxiety, digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches, insomnia related to stress, low back pain, myofascial pain syndrome, nerve pain, soft tissue strains or injuries, sports injuries, temporomandibular joint pain, and upper back and neck pain.

Of course, the Mayo Clinic advises that, despite its benefits, massage isn’t meant as a replacement for regular medical care, and you should let your doctor know you’re trying massage and still be sure to follow any standard treatment plans you have.

t’s no secret that our society has evolved into a highly fast-paced environment. We see it everywhere we look and experience it every time we leave our homes or need to schedule an appointment.

We live in a world where technology allows us to have everything we could possibly need right at our fingertips. It allows us to access answers to questions within seconds of asking, keeps us connected to our loved ones easier than ever—and who doesn’t love getting what we need delivered right to our doorsteps within a matter of hours?

I know my time is extremely limited, so every little thing I can do to alleviate those burdens is a huge asset to me. However, the downside of this constant access is that my business is right at my fingertips. My work emails, social media notifications, scheduling software and the ability to run my business is right there in front of me— all the time. The pressure to stay on top of the never-ending to-do list, the high (and sometimes unrealistic) expectations put on us by being a part of the service industry and the demands of running a business with employees stretches any entrepreneur or groomer extremely thin.

ou’ve got a dog on the table, you’re answering the phone and also checking that Facebook notification…all at the same time.

Sound familiar?

You think you’re being productive, but, in reality, it’s an inefficient use of your time. (Unless you’re in the two-and-a-half percent of the population that can actually multitask.)

There are two types of multitasking: The first type is trying to do two things at once. For example, you’re grooming a dog, then you stop to answer the phone, you go back to grooming the dog and then stop to text another client. Or, maybe you’re updating a client’s file and you stop to answer the phone, then your groomer informs you they’re out of ear cleaner, so now you need to place an order to a vendor before they close for the day, and then somebody walks in to ask if you’re taking new clients. But, it’s all related work.

The second type of multitasking is referred to as context switching, meaning you’re distracted by something. For example, you’re grooming a dog, then your phone dings and you check out the latest drama (The post is up to 253 comments, this is getting good!), you go back to grooming the dog, then your co-worker asks to borrow your scissors and you stop to give precise instructions on how to care for your tools.