Magazine for the professional nail industry.
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BUSINESS} Combat Career Burnout Check out these four ways to get your mojo back when you're singing the blues. Your body and mind will thank you, and you'll be able to enjoy your career in the nail industry for years to come. Most nail techs have felt it at one time or another — the intense desire to hop on a one-way flight to a tropical island and never return. When the desire to run away starts to hit hard, there's no denying it, you're feeling the effects of burnout. Christina Maslach, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, is known for her research on the phenomena, and defines burnout as "a response to stress within the workplace, which can result in extreme fatigue and the loss of passion for one's job." The effects can be devastating. People who suffer from burnout have higher instances of depression, anxiety, and conflicts with coworkers, as well as having lowered productivity and decreased satisfaction with their jobs. The prolonged effects of burnout can lead many nail technicians to quit their jobs, sometimes leaving the industry altogether in search of less stressful careers. The good news is you can keep your job and get your mojo back with these four simple approaches to keeping yourself inspired and stress-free. 1. Learn Something New Research conducted by Maslach has shown that feeling ineffectual at work can contribute to burnout. Common problems in the salon, like trying to bring down your service times or taking care of clients whose enhancements chronically lift, can increase your stress and decrease your sense of a job well done. However, when you start thinking that you can't do anything right, learning a new skill or taking a class to improve an old one can often restore your self-confidence. "I have found that attending a two-day hands-on workshop usually snaps me out of that burnout fog," says Tammi Merritt, an educator for Entity Beauty. "Getting out of town, spending time with my fellow nail professionals, and learning new techniques really inspires me. It can be crazy to try and take a few days away from the salon to attend a class, but it's worth it." If you find you can't get away for a few days, not all hope is lost. The Internet is an excellent resource for learning new techniques and trends. "When I am feeling burnt out at work I like to visit my fellow nail technicians' pages on Facebook, or even watch some YouTube videos to get me inspired," says Sara Khalaf of Nails by Sara in Romulus, Mich. Other websites like Pinterest and NAILStv are also overflowing with inspiration and tutorials. Sometimes, just seeing how another technician performs a service can help you iron out the kinks in your application, or give you ideas to help you make improvements. 132 | NAILS MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2013 BY ANNE SCHLEGEL 2. Talk It Out "There is strong evidence that a lack of social support is linked to burnout," says Maslach. "People thrive in a community, and function best when they share comfort and happiness with people they like and respect." So it's important to have people who understand not only what you do in the salon, but also the unique challenges presented to those who work in the industry. Neeley Carlson, a tech at Nailed It! in Racine, Wis., says, "It's nice to be able to talk, and sometimes vent, to other nail technicians who understand how demanding our job is, and how difficult some clients can be at times." It's always good to know that you're not the only one who has had to wait patiently while a demanding client slowly inspects each nail after it has been filed, before allowing you to proceed to the next. "When you can laugh about it later, with someone who's been there themselves," says Carlson, "it makes the stress of the moment dissipate." Nail tech Anne Schlegel is the owner of Nailed It! (www.naileditsalon.com) in Racine, Wis. >>>