hen we think of self-care, we usually think of things we can do outside of work to make our lives better. Surprisingly, though, there are many things we can do while grooming to make our work easier on our bodies and emotional wellbeing.

Simple things such as letting our tools do our work for us, keeping distractions to a minimum, working within our skill level and not being afraid to walk away from a groom are all examples of self-care while grooming. As business owners, setting clear work hours and scheduling time off will help keep us motivated to stay involved in and excited about our grooming business.

Using your tools in a way that they do your work for you is key to having a long grooming career. For example, letting the water push out dead coat during the bath, then using the air to push more dead coat out while drying has really helped ease the stress on my body during shedding season. To prevent my hands from cramping, using a comb with an ergonomic handle really helps. In addition, shaving a matted cat is much easier on your body and emotional wellbeing than attempting to de-mat; it’s not just a humanity verses vanity issue. While these steps seem simple, you will be surprised how much easier grooming is on your body when you use these techniques.

Having a clear mind at work is very important and is a way to demonstrate self-care while grooming. Cat grooming can be very dangerous. If you are preoccupied with what is going on outside of work, it is easy to miss a sign that the cat is going to strike out. Keeping all distractions out of your grooming area helps you maintain a clear mind while working.

You never know when a distracting text or notification will come up on your phone. If you lose focus for one second, you could easily lose control of the cat you are grooming and become injured. If things are chaotic or stressful outside of work, it is best to reschedule your clients than to risk an injury to yourself or to a cat.

Working within our skill level is another key to self-care while grooming. Pride, reputation, wanting to impress people and needing money are all reasons why we might take on cats that are too dangerous for our skill level. When we attempt to groom these felines that are too difficult, either due to behavior or grooming needs, it causes frustration and increases the risk of injury to ourselves and/or the cat.

If you are ready to expand your skill level, complete more difficult grooms and take on more aggressive cats as clients, seeking an education through an organization that focuses on feline grooming is an important next step. Increasing your education before you increase the difficulty level in the cats you accept as clients will help to keep you safe.

Being able to walk away from a groom is not easy, but it is important in caring for ourselves while grooming. When we groom a cat that is too difficult or dangerous, we increase our risk of injury. It is very important to remember that a cat bite can be life-changing. When you make the choice to walk away from a groom, you are choosing your safety and wellbeing over the owner’s desire for you to groom their cat.

I have had many bites over the years. Two of those bites required emergency surgery and a week in the hospital. I know from experience it is far better to walk away from a cat than to continue a groom that has the potential to cause you an injury.

If you are a grooming business owner, there are things you can do to help manage your stress level, prevent burnout and keep your productivity level higher. As owners, we feel like we must be available 24/7—especially when money is tight. The best strategy I discovered, which I put in place in 2017, is having one day a month with no contact with my business.

I set the second Thursday of the month for my day off so everyone knows I will not be available and no one will be able to reach me on that day. Now I go even further and use no electronic devices on that day. Yes, it was scary at first. Yes, it can be hard. But I found it is a very important part of my success. It gives me time to refocus, prioritize what is important in my life and reset.

If a full day of no contact with your business is too big of a first step, try something smaller like taking a morning off each month. You will be amazed at how refreshed you are and how excited you become to return to your business.

Another tip I have for owners is to set your schedule and stick to it. If you decide to groom Thursday to Monday, do not take a cat on Wednesday. If you decide to work 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., do not return a call at 4 p.m. People will respect your schedule once you establish it and stick to it. If you make one exception to your schedule, people will expect you to make more and more exceptions.

While self-care is often thought of as practices you can do outside of work, there are many self-care steps we as groomers can take to help us become more productive and to keep us in love with grooming.