How to Avoid Groomer Burnout 🤕

Groomer burnout is real.

And in this blog post, we’re getting real…. Physical!

If you’ve ever groomed 4 dogs in an 8 hour shift and been on your feet all day, you know how tough grooming can be on your body.

The physical labor associated with grooming forces a lot of great groomers to quit earlier in their careers than necessary.

So how do you survive a long career in grooming so you can make money grooming late in your life?

You don't, you just keep suffering… 😂😂😂

Just kidding - don’t suffer and kill your body. Do these tips..

Back savers in the salon or van

The main cause of back pain when grooming dogs is our height differences compared to our dogs. Bending over for 10-30 minutes to brush or bathe a dog is plenty enough to cause just about anyone some discomfort. That's simple enough, but what about some cheats and hacks to work around that?

There are a few things that you should be doing to save your back - NO matter what! Here’s a common checklist:

• Get good supporting shoes - even if they’re expensive. Your health is literally your money maker, so don’t shortcut this one!
• Be mindful of your posture. It’s REALLY hard to avoid slouching. We all know it’s bad for us, but sometimes it just happens. So I like to do whatever I can to set reminders - sticky notes, phone notifications, etc. If you need to, get a posture brace! They’re not too expensive on Amazon, and you won’t have to worry about remembering.
• Do regular stretching - Stretch before, during, and after your shift. Just open up YouTube and search for a 5 minute stretching video or here’s 5 movements to prevent back pain for pet groomers. Point is - don’t overcomplicate it!
• Always lift with your legs - So simple but so gosh darn important. When you lift your dogs, bend at the knees and not the back.

I hope you were nodding your head as you read through that list. I call those items the “Non-Negotiables” because these are things we really shouldn’t compromise on as groomers. Plus (outside of the shoes), none of those items cost anything!

So yes - we can take care of our backs for free. But what if you wanted to spend a little more to invest into your money maker? Well here is my list of the spendy back savers. 🤑

• Hydraulic Table - Being “eye-level” with your dogs keeps you from bending over or leaning on your table. Though pricier, hydraulic tables can be a huge relief. Here’s a decently priced on Amazon.
• Fatigue Mat - Being on your feet all day can strain your body. Add some comfort with an anti-fatigue mat. Here’s a decently priced on Amazon.

Stop abusing your body, take care of yourself!

• Be active outside of work - All groomers should be doing yoga, lifting weights or engaging in some type of exercise or active activities outside of work. I realize people have many reasons why this may not be possible, but groomers who don’t are setting themselves up for chronic pain.
• Eat food that isn't crap - We get it you’re busy! But you can only live off of takeout, fast food, coffee and energy drinks for so long. All of that poor quality food will do damage to your body in the long run.  You don't need to become a health nut but make one small change a month.
• Get a Massage – You have to "dematt" all those knots in your back somehow! it may take a massage therapist who specializes in sports or functional massage but 1 massage every 4 to 6 weeks will help. You have 4-to-6-week grooms so why not do the same to improve your well-being?