1 mins
Overwhelm vs. Procrastination
Working in the industry can be a struggle, so it’s important for salon owners to take steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed, writes Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson is an international business coach with 20 years in the salon industry. With a passion for innovation, Phil offers a unique perspective on the challenges of salon ownership.
Business can be brutal, life can be challenging, and feeling overwhelmed can be a frequent struggle for those in the salon industry. But many salon owners are making things worse for themselves. That’s because, on the surface, their overwhelm looks like procrastination.
Perhaps your goals are a little woolly. Maybe you’re inattentive or you seek distraction when working. Or it could be that you’re inventing excuses to refrain from doing things. If this sounds familiar, you’re procrastinating.
Eliminate distractions, switch off notifications and find the best time of day to focus on your work. Rekindle the passion for the task by reconnecting with the reason behind it. Getting more organised can help with procrastination. A good way to do this is to schedule your tasks and break them down into smaller chunks.
But trying to deal with overwhelm in the same way, is a recipe for disaster. Imagine you have a friend that feels small, alone, irritable and is showing physical symptoms of overwhelm. You wouldn’t treat that person with discouragement or discipline, yet we are constantly treating ourselves this way.
So many of us are over critical with the way we repeatedly speak to ourselves, which is beyond anything we would dare say to someone else. Yet this continual chipping away of our own self-esteem has long-term effects and can be devastating if you are feeling overwhelmed.
The better approach is to increase the time and effort you put into self-care to reduce anxiety. Try to identify what is at the root of those feelings of fear. Break down overwhelming tasks into smaller chunks. Celebrate each time you make progress. Delegate as much as you can to your team or outsourcers. But most importantly, be kind to yourself.