Professional burnout is a rising concern that affects millions every year. In a survey done by Deloitte, 77% of respondents said they’d experienced some type of burnout at their current job. Burnout can lead to mental and physical stress, fatigue, and depression.

Massage therapists are especially prone to these feelings of burnout. Because when you exert too much energy and don’t allow yourself to reset and rewind, you can’t keep up with the demand. You fall into a vicious cycle of always trying to catch up and feel rested.

Burnout in the Massage Therapy Industry

There’s more to massage therapy than what meets the eye. If you’re an individual practice owner in this profession, you most likely wear many hats every day. You need to ensure bookkeeping is up to date, your clients are happy, and you’re getting enough business to generate regular income. Some say you do the job of two: a massage therapist and an office manager. Unfortunately, while working to build your clientele and deliver the best quality experience to your customers, you’re especially prone to symptoms of burnout.

Burnout is quite common in this industry. However, there are ways you can restructure your practice to best suit the needs of you and your clients.

Factors That Contribute to Burnout

The average massage therapist works hands-on for 15 hours per week. That might not seem like a lot, but that equates to three hours of physical activity, five days a week. Some even go as far as 30 hours per week!

When you aren’t with clients, you focus on bookkeeping, marketing, scheduling, cleaning, planning, and going over SOAP notes and intake forms—all of which are vital to maintaining and growing a practice.

Your average workweek is anything but average, and many things can contribute to burnout outside of being in session. Some common factors include:

Physical Stress

Massage therapy isn’t easy. It’s physically demanding and can leave you feeling drained after a long day at work, especially if you’re overbooked and overworked. Listen to your body. It will provide you with clear signs when you’ve reached your physical limits.

Overscheduling

Overscheduling can take a toll on any individual. For example, if you have back-to-back client appointments all day, you’ll have very few moments to yourself, which can impact your mental and physical health. Plus, if you’re constantly telling your clients “yes” even when you need a break and have a problem setting clear boundaries with them, it could be a sign you need to revise your schedule before things get too out of hand.

Emotional Stress

Emotional stress is common in the workplace. According to Stress.org, 25% of people say their job is the number one stressor in their lives. When you’re emotionally exhausted, you may lack motivation, have difficulty concentrating, and have no drive to get things done, no matter how busy you get. For example, this can happen when a massage therapist doesn’t stay organized and falls behind on one of their essential daily tasks. It creates a domino effect that can be hard to get under control.

Inefficient Business Operations

As a massage therapist, your focus should always be on providing the best possible experience for your clients. You shouldn’t need to worry about playing phone tag, rescheduling appointments, and other business operations that can be automated. If your business operations fail you, you’re putting more work on your plate. You deserve a simplified solution that helps you manage the daily tasks every practice encounters.

How to Avoid Burnout

Avoiding burnout is easier said than done in some situations. Always be kind to yourself and look for ways to improve the way you approach each day.

Know Your Physical and Emotional Limits

As a massage therapist, you have the flexibility to create your schedule and limit the number of new clients you take on. Be mindful of your mental and physical capacity when planning your schedule, and make time for breaks throughout the workday. Create a daily work routine and block off enough time to get the admin side of things done efficiently.

Schedule Appointments Within Your Capacity

It can be easy to get ahead of yourself and overschedule. For example, you may feel it’s okay to schedule an appointment during your lunch one day, but turning it into a weekly habit can result in burnout. Be aware of your time each week, and don’t be afraid to give yourself a chance to refuel and recalibrate daily.

Take Advantage of Massage Practice Management Software

If you aren’t using practice management software to help run your practice, you could be doing more work than needed. The right practice management software has the power to keep you organized, productive, and two steps ahead of your scheduling. Once you find one that complements your practice, you’ll be able to focus on bigger and better things.

Get Started With MassageBook’s Practice Management Software Today

Burnout is a serious problem. However, there are many things you can do to curb and prevent it. By partnering with a trusted practice management software, you’ll be able to take more weight off your shoulders and stay focused on the essential tasks at hand.

MassageBook is an all-in-one practice management software that simplifies your daily tasks and makes running your practice a lot less stressful. Manage scheduling, SOAP notes, marketing, payments, and more with an easy-to-use solution explicitly built to simplify and grow your practice at every stage of your career.

Try every feature free for 30 days. Then, pick the best plan for you—including the free-for-a-year Transition Plan.

Get Started Now to Prevent Burnout Later