Improve Concentration & Productivity as a Stylist & Owner

Somehow in between the multiple waves of pandemic scares or shifts in the number of clients you’re servicing, beauty business owners have become creative when it comes to rebounding financially. Yes! While it’s important that you stay driven to keep your business open despite any challenges, taking time to evaluate how you are coping with daily pressures of life as a small business owner during a challenging economy is just as important. So, I bet it’s a great time to improve your concentration and productivity at the salon – especially if you wear two hats – stylist and owner. 

Are You Ready to Work Full Time?
From maternity leave to extended vacations, you may have stepped away from your salon for just a bit. And, let’s be real: Transitioning from having been away to returning to work can be stressful.

Balance Mental Shape Shifting to Improve Concentration
Thus, to preserve your sanity, it’s important that you create a smooth shift back into entrepreneur mode as you work to keep your salon buzzing on all cylinders.

Possessing better concentration and focus while behind the stylist chair will play a pivotal role in allowing you to easily turn off home and turn on work.

Let’s dive into how to coax your mind into doing this.

Like with lots of things in life, when we change our minds, we change our world.

Now is the time to train your brain to produce what doctors call “flow,” in order to be super-efficient. 

Get in the Groove
Psychologist and creator of the flow concept, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, has said that flow is a highly focused mental state ripe for productivity. 

It is also characterized as an “optimal state of consciousness where you feel your best and perform your best.”

Furthermore, research describes, when engaged in flow, your brain naturally directs all attention toward a specific goal and is keen to solve problems, which is why those who experience this concept while at work just get more done than those who do not engage flow.

Let It Flow (pun intended!)
Improve concentration to usher in this flow state, which allows all distractions and any thoughts threatening your productivity to be squashed at the onset.

And, get this, in a 10-year study, conducted by McKinsey Global Institute, 5,000 executives found that they were 5x more productive when they were in flow mode versus when they were not. Girl, imagine how much more you could get done at your beauty business if you were 5x more productive.

Well, let’s do more than just imagine.

Create your own flow using these 3 steps:

• Daily, create specific and detailed goals.
  The clearer your goals, the better your concentration will be on getting these goals knocked out.
• Edit each goal to be both a challenge and achievable.
  When your abilities are stretched in order to accomplish a task, you respond better than when it’s easy for you to get it done. Research shows that when motivation is improved, you will also experience improved concentration.  You know that when you improve concentration, you immediately create a catalyst for flow. See how one building block leads to another? Before you know it, you’ve built a foundation for some goodness to happen.
  
• Accept positive criticism or watch for feedback.
  Feedback feeds flow. Throughout your day, as you’re working, ask for other’s opinion to gauge how well you are doing with achieving your goals. Or, if you prefer to keep this a solo effort, be mindful of your level of victory or defeat with the task at hand. Then, switch gears, if you need to, based on your findings to achieve the ultimate flow state.

Understand a Few Basic Stepping Stones
At this point, you’ve learned that possessing a strong concentration is a must to prepare your brain to achieve flow. 

There are small efforts that you can make now to help your mind to relax and improve concentration before starting your workday at the salon.

• Go to Bed on Time.
  If you’re sleep deprived, achieving concentration will be a struggle. Your memory and attention span will also be disrupted. Most of us need at least 7 hours of sleep to function, so set a decent bedtime and stick to it every night.
• Take a Walk Outside.
  Getting outside will increase your concentration naturally, so hop outdoors at least once a day for at least 15 minutes.
• Get Active.
  Exercise definitely contributes to improved concentration. 
• Watch What You Eat.
  Steer clear of processed foods, including those juiced up with too much sugar and fat. To strengthen concentration, try eating more of the following: fatty fish (think salmon and trout), eggs (white and yolk both), blueberries, spinach, lots of water (dehydration makes it hard to focus), foods high in protein and fiber.

TAKE AWAY

• Creating “flow” can be achieved once your brain is in full concentration mode and distractions are minimized.
• Now is a good time to create good daily habits to increase professional productivity, including getting enough rest nightly and staying active.