Dayspa

JAN 2018

DAYSPA is the business resource for spa & wellness professionals! Each issue covers the latest in skin care, spa treatments, wellness services and management strategies.

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[ 64 ] • # dayspamagazine • january 2018 management workshop by Merlisa Lawrence Corbett Burning the Midnight Oil Recognizing and addressing signs of burnout. © GETTY IMAGES I t took a selfi e for Eva Kerschbaumer to recognize that she had hit rock bottom. Kerschbaumer, who co-owns ESSpa Kozmetika Organic Skincare in Pittsburgh with her husband, snapped a photo with her 14-year-old son and was surprised by what she saw. She says she appeared drab, unhealthy and, worse, unhappy. "We were supposed to be smiling, but I wasn't—I looked sick," she recalls, pinpointing that moment as the one that made her realize she was burned out. Kerschbaumer is not alone. In an industry dedicated to relaxation, many spa pros are on edge: Their work-life balance is off -kilter and although they are experts at rejuvenating others, they often neglect their own needs. Burnout is typically caused not by one event, but rather an accumulation—hours, days, weeks, months or even years of self- neglect. Spa industry professionals often fail to practice what they preach, and they end up trying to promote wellness while they themselves are falling apart. "This is a much bigger problem than anybody's letting on," says Carol Phillips, founder of spa consulting and marketing fi rm BeauteeSmarts. "Work can start to feel like a grind rather than your chosen career, especially for those who have been in the industry for 15 years or longer." Knowing What to Look For The Mayo Clinic defi nes burnout as "a state of physical, emotional or mental exhaustion combined with doubts about your competence and the value of your work." Symptoms may include—but aren't limited to—fatigue, depression, and lack of enthusiasm or interest. "It's human nature to shut down when you get overwhelmed," says Phillips. "On top of that, if you're the business owner and you're responsible for the team, that pressure is always there." Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness can serve as a signal that burnout is on the way. In addition, "tardiness, missing meetings, forgetfulness, noncompliance, and not following rules and regulations" are all telltale signs that staff ers might be burning out, warns Phillips. "I always listen closely to any complaining going on in the dispensaries and break rooms. Burnout is a joy- sapper that makes you not want to work. It's more than general malaise, and if it goes on for a period of time you need to look at what you're doing and how you can fi x it," she explains. "If you're in tune with your staff , you will recognize the smallest changes within their personalities," adds Scott Duncan, a partner at Spa Gregorie's, with locations in Newport Beach

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