Decompressing at the End of the Day

Earthlite shared a great post last month about Winding Down.  It's so important (in any profession, really), but with the high rate of burnout in the massage field, I think it's especially important to make sure that we are really taking this time for ourselves at the end of our day.

So I thought I'd add a few things to Earthlite's great suggestions:

• Soak in a hot tub.  (I'm a big fan of this in the winter time here in Michigan.  Bonus?  You can totally count this as "outdoor time" which can be hard to come by in any other form on those blustery days!)
• Get some exercise.
  While it doesn't seem like winding down... walking the dog (Iggy's favorite), taking a leisurely bike ride, or really pounding out the pavement with a run can do wonders for the soul.
• Yoga or Tai Chi.
  I suppose this could fall under "exercise", but it's a different kind of connection with your own body.  And what better way to really disconnect from your clients and reconnect with yourself at the end of the day?
• Play in the dirt.
  Ground yourself with some garden therapy.
• Play with your kids, pets, etc.  (It's so easy to forget how to play as adults!)

I know a therapist who worked in Hawaii and swore by the recharging powers of swimming in the ocean after a long day of doing massage in a dark room.  This would certainly be my choice if I had it available!
What are your favorite ways to wind down at the end of a long massage day?

Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling. 

She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

                                                                     Photo: freedigitalphotos.net

11 Ways Getting a Massage is Better Than Taking a Vacation

Bummed you didn't plan a vacation this summer?  Can't take the time to work in a getaway?  Consider these reasons why getting a massage is better than taking a vacation.  (And then schedule your massage).

1. No sunburn, tan lines, or skin damage.
2. You'll smell like heavenly essential oils afterward, instead of like salty sea water, pool chlorine, or stuffy airplane air.
3. It only takes an hour of your time & a short commute to get there.  No long flights involved (usually).
4. A massage won't break the bank.
5. You can squeeze a massage in during your lunch break or after work hours.  No requesting time off from work. (ok, this could be a con as well as a pro...)
6. Your shoulders and back will feel nice and loose versus how they will feel after hauling luggage through an airport.
7. No stress of planning what to do on your vacation.  Just lie back, close your eyes, and relax.
8. No hangovers.
9. No layovers.
10. You won't come back feeling like you "need a vacation from your vacation".
11. No groping from airport security.

What are some of the reasons you would add to this list?

Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling. 

She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

How To Burn Out in 7 Years ... or Less!

A post last week from Massage Table Outlet about the importance of self-care for massage therapists has inspired me to write this post.  Unfortunately, it's a topic that I feel doesn't get enough emphasis in our field.

- Massage Table Outlet

Therapists often don't realize the importance until it's too late!  So while my list here is playful, please take care of yourself and take this information to ♥

How to Burn Out in 7 Years... or Less!

Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

• Do as many massages a day as humanly possible.
• Only schedule enough time in between clients to change the linens on the table.
• Fuel up on gummi bears and Mt. Dew during your work day.
• Forget everything you ever learned about proper body mechanics.
• Use your thumbs AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE in your work.
• Consider doing massage as your daily requirement for "exercise" and never do anything additional for your body.
• Try to work 7 or 8 days a week.
• Don't stretch - this is for sissies.
• Say YES to everything and everyone - especially clients.
• Never learn any new techniques. Stick to the exact same work you've been doing since massage school so you're sure to be bored out of your mind.
• Play the same massage music every day... for years.
• Charge just enough to feed yourself and possible not make your mortgage or rent payment each month.
• Take on all of your client's emotional and physical baggage yourself - make yourself a martyr.
• Give all of yourself all the time to every one....except yourself.
• Don't learn to work with any kind of tools.
• Spend your off time doing hands-heavy hobbies like playing piano, gardening, kneading dough, etc.
• And last but not least:
  Never receive any bodywork yourself!

Do you have other tips to add on how to quickly burnout as an MT?  Comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling. She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years, and has been an associate instructor for Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy since 2007.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

How to be a Stressed Out Mess at Tax Time

As a follow up to my post yesterday on "Getting Organized for Tax Time", here's a few tips for those of you that prefer to be more "free spirited".

ddpavumba / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

• Don't use any type of bookkeeping system for your massage business.
• Randomly scatter any business related receipts throughout your office, home, purse, and car.  Then host an annual "receipt hunt" and invite friends & family to join in.
• Make business purchases with several different credit cards, debit cards, sometimes with cash, other times checks - including personal checks.  And don't keep track of any of it.
• Wait until the end of the year to tally up income from massage sessions. Or better yet, wait until April 14th.  Or even better?  Just guestimate your income.
• Don't keep copies of tax returns from previous years.
• Don't consult with a professional.  Decide to do this all yourself - even though you're a massage therapist, NOT an accountant.
• Prioritize.  Facebooking always trumps bookkeeping.  always.
• Don't make quarterly payments. It's much more exciting to find out that you owe thousands all at once. And if you don't pay? The IRS will threaten to seize your assets.  THIS is how you bring more adventure into your life!

Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling. She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years, and has been an associate instructor for Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy since 2007.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com