As a barber, your job is technical and highly skilled. It takes years of training and practice to become an expert, and the learning never stops. Despite being demanding of your dexterity and know-how, barbering is not strictly about proficiency with scissors and trimmers. It also requires artistry, emotional intelligence, and a deep level of care.
Sure, your barbering prowess hinges on your technical prowess, but you also have to be in tune with your clients. You are tasked with giving the look they desire, which translates to healthier hair, improved confidence, and a feeling of being refreshed and cared for. What you do straddles the line between art, technique, and service.
While your barbering savvy and commitment to helping customers feel better about themselves are fantastic traits and rewarding in terms of a career, it can be easy to dedicate all of your time and energy to making others happy at the expense of yourself.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it seems like the perfect time to talk about finding balance between you time and helping others as a barber.
Why Taking Time for Yourself is Important
Even if you are someone who thrives in social situations and finds meaning and purpose through your career and helping others, taking time for yourself can have tremendous benefits. As difficult as it can be as a barber to prioritize yourself and find the time to do so, it is worth the effort.
Keep in mind that self-care does not have to be a big ordeal, and it does not mean being overly indulgent. Instead, it’s about taking care of yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and so on–all important factors to your health and overall well-being.
You Will Perform Better
The opposite of achieving balance as a barber is neglecting yourself in favor of your clients, business, and whatever else is demanding your time and attention. This can lead to higher levels of stress, lower quality of life, and a serious case of feeling burnt out.
When considered in context, these factors add up to negatively impact your performance at and away from work. Prioritizing balance and taking a little time for yourself can help you recharge, refocus, and perform better when barbering and simply living your life.
You’ll Be Healthier
Boosting your clients’ confidence and helping them approach life feeling good about themselves is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a barber. Sometimes, though, you can get so caught up in assisting others that your own confidence, self-esteem, and health falls by the wayside.
From proper hydration and nutrition to exercise, rest, and creative outlets, occasionally prioritizing your needs can work wonders for your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. In turn, a healthier you can then help others with even more energy and focus.
Your Relationships Will Flourish
In addition to benefiting you in a plethora of ways, self-care can rejuvenate your relationships and make them healthier and stronger than ever. By striving to better yourself through finding a work-life balance, you will be better able to immerse yourself in meaningful relationships, reconnect with loved ones, and be the person you want to be within those contexts. Self-care is essential for you, and it benefits those around you, too.
Barber Self-Care: Ideas for Better Balance
While we barely scratched the surface of how beneficial self-care can be for barbers, there’s no question that there are compelling reasons to embrace it. So, how do you take care of yourself while still excelling in your career?
Start with the Basics
One of the goals of self-care is to return to the basics and restore the simple yet integral aspects of your health and well-being. When you are busy with work, especially when that work involves taking care of others, it is easy to let taking care of yourself slip through the cracks.
You can practice self-care every day by prioritizing a healthy amount of sleep, ensuring you are eating well, and connecting with people who are meaningful in your life. From there, you can build healthy habits, such as developing an exercise routine, finding moments to self-reflect (journaling, meditating, or whatever works for you), and spending time outdoors.
Treat Yourself Like You Would Treat a Client
You give your clients the royal treatment. From making their envisioned style come to life to helping them relax and feel comfortable during their session, you put thought and effort into accommodating their needs and going above and beyond.
It’s important to occasionally give yourself that same treatment. Sit back, relax, and treat yourself with the same care and attention to detail you give to others. The stress relief will be noticeable, and you’ll emerge feeling confident and reinvigorated.
Do Something You Love
Even if barbering is your passion, it is vital to live a well-rounded life. Sometimes, you need to step away from what you do for work (even if you love it) and enjoy your other hobbies and passions. Whether it’s a creative pursuit, a road trip, a movie-watching binge, or a date night, giving yourself the opportunity to spend time doing what you love (with the people you love) is an essential part of self-care.
The importance of self-care and balance as a barber cannot be overstated. This blog could stretch indefinitely, providing you with reasons to prioritize your well-being and giving you suggestions on how to do so. We encourage you to try it for yourself and hope that the ideas above inspire you to live a balanced life as a barber.
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