ou know the awful feeling of dragging yourself out of bed in the morning, getting ready to go to a dead-end job you don’t want to be at, working with people and dogs you don’t like, to make money that doesn’t even pay the bills? Well, that’s burnout, my dear.

If you have felt it, then you know exactly what I am talking about. And if you haven’t, you’re lucky. Burnout happens in every difficult job. But, when you work with live animals—especially intuitive animals like dogs—it is crucial you do what you can to avoid it. Dogs sense our frustrations, our disgust for our employers and our inability to deal with the day-to-day stress of grooming, thus creating a perpetual cycle of hatred for what was once your passion. There is no shame in feeling this way. Just know, it’s temporary; however, only YOU can change it. Here are some tips if you are starting to feel trapped by your day-to-day routine.

I know…money. BUT, you can always make more money. You can’t make more time. In all seriousness, a vacation doesn’t have to be crazy expensive. You don’t have to backpack through Europe or visit Alaska. A two-hour road trip to a little town you haven’t been to, staying at a hotel, doing some strip-mall shopping, relaxing by the pool and having a few drinks will likely do the trick. Although, I do suggest a nice lavish vacation as often as possible. Just make it a point to do something outside of your everyday life and in an area you don’t frequent often.

There are only two rules when on vacation from dog grooming:

Your normal two days off a week don’t count. Take four to six days off, at least.

Do not spend your vacation deep cleaning your salon, rig or home work station. Do not spend it catching up on paperwork, answering calls, fixing your website, updating quickbooks, etc. Do not visit family and give their lab a nail trim. If you’re an employee, block everyone you work with and enjoy a break. If you own a salon, turn the phone off and don’t dare touch your computer. It can all wait! Nothing horrible will happen if you take a week to reground yourself. The sky won’t fall, your business won’t burn and everything will be waiting for you when you return.

I know exactly what you’re thinking…If you don’t return the texts, calls and emails, it will all pile up and be double the work when you get back. Well, you can either just return a few each day for the next week or so after you’re back, or dedicate your first day back to catching up. Even better, if you have a manager you can delegate the responsibility to, do that.

Just take the break. I promise you won’t regret it. Have you ever heard someone say, “Man, I shouldn’t have taken that vacation?” Me either.

Even if your recent increase is “enough,” raise them again anyway. You don’t have to raise everyone. You don’t have to raise by a lot. Raise everyone $2 or raise the worst dogs $20. Raise only bath dogs or only small dogs. If you are working 40+ hours a week, breaking your back every day and still miserable because you’re broke, then there is a problem.

We work with LIVE animals, and it’s time to start charging like it. I’m sure you are no stranger to the phrase “charge your worth.” Everyone has heard it and yet most groomers don’t feel they are worthy of charging high-end prices. Let me tell you a secret—you are.

Go through your books and jot down the name of every client or dog who makes you not want to work. There may be a few, or you may realize your schedule is booked up by unruly dogs and inconsiderate clients. Drop them! I fire dogs that cause me to go home in pain. That included a dog that was well behaved but who had six inches of hair to brush out, and my wrists, after a decade of grooming, are in pain. Instead, I replaced him with two small dogs that, overall, pay me more and I don’t go home in pain.

I fire clients that are always picky and make me feel bad about my work because they don’t understand that putting an even cut on a dog that twirls the entire time is impossible. I fire clients that are always late at dropping off or late to pick up. I fire clients who text me a million times while their dogs are with me. Now, you might think this is harsh, but it’s not. I still have current clients that do all of these things but they weren’t fired because when I saw their name, I liked them anyway. Is it fair? Maybe not, but I truly don’t care. After twelve years, I finally decided I wanted to enjoy every day and not only some days. Life is too short to dread coming into work. Those dogs can go somewhere else. There are always going to be more dogs!

After I get all the names listed, I give them one more shot. That last appointment is when I decide if I want to replace them or keep them. You might find the idea of letting them all go already brightens you up. If that’s the case, do it! You might also find reasons to keep the dogs as well. Then, do that. The point is to identify your stressors, target them, eliminate them or work through them. Whichever direction you go, at least start cutting some of those people out of your schedule and you’ll see better days ahead.

If you are working for a greedy employer, an absentee employer who puts all the stress of the business on your shoulders, an employer who’s never happy with your work or one who doesn’t pay you a fair wage—quit! If you have coworkers who constantly nitpick your work or talk bad about you behind your back—quit! If you like the people you work with but the facility is disgusting because no one but you cleans—quit! If everything is perfect but it’s an hour away from your house and the commute causes you stress—quit!

There are so many great salons with fantastic owners desperate for help. You can find someone who will appreciate you. If you live in an area that’s not saturated with salons, then open your own. If you don’t build your dream, someone will hire you to build theirs. It sounds scary, but on the other side of fear is freedom.

Create an environment that breeds inspiration, creativity and, most of all, happiness. And if what you need to be happy in your career doesn’t exist already, create it. Rediscover that spark and run with it. You can do it!