The daily struggles you face as a business owner can have a real impact on both your physical and mental health, which is why you need to put measures in place to protect your wellbeing.
Therefore, it’s imperative to look after your mental wellbeing, as well as sending your beauty therapist team access to online tools that can help them manage stress, anxiety and fear, especially if they already have underlying mental health issues.
Tammy Koslowski, founder of Naf! Salon in Glasgow, agrees: “We work in the business of people – the services we provide are looking after people every day. They come to our space to feel good about themselves and take some time out for themselves, but it’s important for us as salon owners and employees to make sure we’re looking after ourselves so we can look after our clients without it feeling like a burden.”
Looking after you and your employees' mental health is important, both for your wellbeing and the success of your business.
Here are four things that can happen if you or your employees are unhappy at work, according to career coaching platform Jobleads and Maria-Teresa Daher-Cusack, a clinical development consultant at Health Assured:
1. Chronic stress and burnout
Ongoing dissatisfaction in the workplace can lead to persistent stress and anxiety. The constant strain of tensing your muscles in anticipation of tasks you dread can feel like an unending workout, resulting in body aches.
This prolonged stress not only triggers the release of hormones that increase heart rate and narrow blood vessels, but also weakens your immune system, creating a cycle of increased sick days and decreased productivity.
To alleviate this, set clear boundaries between work and personal time. Learning to say no to overwhelming situations helps protect your mental space, reducing feelings of entrapment in your job.
2. Disrupted sleep quality
Worrying about work can lead to sleepless nights, with stress and overthinking making it difficult to unwind. Poor sleep quality is a major concern, as restful sleep is crucial for emotional regulation and cognitive function, while a consistent lack of sleep can amplify feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
To break this cycle, establish a calming bedtime routine, reduce screen time before bed, and practice relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing exercises for more restful nights.
3. Declining self-esteem
Prolonged job dissatisfaction can erode a person’s self-esteem, leading to doubts about one’s abilities, and contributing to mental health issues like depression and anxiety. This creates a vicious cycle that hinders proactive steps towards career fulfillment.
Surround yourself with supportive friends who uplift your mood and reinforce your self-worth, and seek regular feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors to gain perspective on your strengths and areas for improvement.
4. Increased likelihood of problematic behaviors
Feeling trapped in stressful or unfulfilling jobs can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol use and binge eating. While these behaviors may provide temporary relief, they carry significant long-term health risks, including cardiovascular disease and liver damage.
Try to adopt healthier outlets for stress relief: set a daily routine that includes at least 30 minutes of physical activity or mindfulness practices, such as guided meditation. Instead of isolating yourself, connect with friends after work or join local clubs that align with your interests.
We share some helpful resources that can help improve you and your team’s mental health and wellbeing.
9 resources to help beauty business owners stay mentally healthy:
1. Start the “Five steps to mental wellbeing”
The NHS states on its website that there are five steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing – things that could help you feel more positive, and mental health trainer and barbre Tom Chapman recommends trying it.
“It’s basically a way of making sure we look after ourselves physically and mentally. It focuses on things like connecting with others – however you like to do that, such as social media, going out with friends, or gaming online – just so that you connect with other people,” he says.
“Giving to others can help too as giving makes you feel good, and this doesn’t even need to be a gift. I urge everyone to give someone a text to let them know how much you care about them. It will make a huge difference to that person’s day.”
Check out Chapman’s advice on how beauty professionals can ensure their mental wellbeing in our Instagram Live.
2. First Aid for Mental Health courses
First Aid for Mental Health courses are developed to support employers and employees to prioritise mental health.
The main aims are to remove the stigma of mental health, change the culture towards mental health and create kinder happier working environments.
Charlie Oscar, a training company that provides accredited First Aid for Mental Health courses aimed at aesthetics and beauty businesses, has been set up by aesthetics professional Karen Sargeant.
Once trained, employees can better spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide immediate help. They provide a point of contact for colleagues who raise concerns. They also understand their own mental health and how it affects their health, relationships, and productivity.
3. The Mental Health Masterclass
Timely Business Management Software has partnered with Tom Chapman to develop a four-pillar mental health training Virtual Masterclass, which has been developed to give beauty and hair professionals the tools needed to support clients and colleagues who are facing mental health struggles.
The course, available to all beauty and hair professionals, regardless of whether they are Timely customers or not, is a two-hour programme that takes the learner through four pillars of awareness; Recognise, Ask, Listen and Help.
4. World Health Organization resources
The World Health Organization is championing good mental health with an array of resources and activities that provide help for those struggling.
As well as guides on how to manage stress and look after your mental health, the organisation also has vital information on depression, suicide, anxiety, and fear, and who to turn to for support.
The organisation says, "in cases if mental distress, the first step is to talk to someone you trust."
5. Mind’s mental health checklist
Mental health charity Mind has a suite of free tools available to boost your wellbeing during this time of duress. It is also advising those struggling with their mental health minimise the number of news alerts they get or limit their daily screen time if the stories are making you feel anxious or confused.
Although it’s important to stay connected with events, the charity advises getting your news and health information from trusted sources, such as the NHS and Gov UK. It may also be worth cutting down your social media use to avoid being spammed with fake news, which can heighten anxiety.
6. GWI Positively Well
The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) launched its Positively Well campaign to encourage members of the beauty and spa industries to “replace fear with a focus on wellness”.
This is a space where you can find articles on how being positive can lead to better health outcomes, as well as trusted resources on what’s going on. There are also tons of advice available on reducing stress and boosting your immune system.
7. Virtual therapy apps
There are an array of affordable virtual therapy apps available online that enable you to chat with professional counsellors virtually. TalkSpace is one such app, where you can talk to a therapist about your concerns. Find out more about TalkSpace.
Vulnerable people can also access free online emotional support via The Help Hub. You can book a 15-to-20-minute session guided by a qualified therapist, who will give support to deal with the knock-on effects of anxiety and loneliness during social distancing.
8. Meditation tools
Wellness app Calm has curated content to help stressed-out and anxious business owners boost their mental and emotional wellness. The tools include soothing meditations, sleep meditations, sleep stories, calm music, and visualisation and breathing exercises.
“Without a doubt, many of us are feeling anxious as we navigate the uncertainty of Covid-19. We’re feeling it too, and we wanted to share some of the tools we’re using to take care of our minds and stay grounded,” the brand said on its website.
Access Calm’s wellness resources.
9. Mental wellbeing audio guides
The NHS also has an array of mental wellbeing audio guides to help boost your mood during this tough time. You can listen to them privately or play them out loud in your household to help your family manage their anxiety.
The guides, which each range between six and 10 minutes, cover anxiety control training, sleep problems, unhelpful thinking and how to tackle low mood, sadness, and depression. It’s worth adding one of these into your daily ritual.
Don’t miss: our guide to the official mental health resources available throughout the UK.
