Apart from creativity, managing your time is one of the top priorities in the salon or during session styling — from processing times to making sure your clients run on time to being constrained to lighting cues or studio hours. But as most stylists will agree, there are times when you will fall behind. As we gear up for some of the busiest times of the year, British Hairdresser of the Year and TONI&GUY global creative director Cos Sakkas lends his advice on the top ways to manage time in the salon or on set.
As a busy hairdresser, inevitably, you will sometimes feel a little overwhelmed. Juggling shoots, training sessions, and clients, and running a full column can seem like an endless to-do list. Learning to manage your time more effectively can be a huge asset to both your professional advancement and your sense of well-being.
The Top 5 Tips for Managing Your Time Effectively
1. Have a daily to-do list
It’s impossible to plan for every eventuality; every day will throw you some curve balls, that’s the nature of the job. Compile a daily planner and list the things that you do have control over that day. Whatever the tasks, having them presented as a list, with a time slot, will encourage you to accomplish them. And the sense of achievement when you do cross off a task is wonderful!
2. Set realistic goals
Goals can be forgotten when it’s busy – who can believe we’re already halfway through the year? As well as a daily to-do list, it’s a great idea to have a goal planner, where you list the goals you want to achieve and the steps you need to take towards achieving them. Setting goals is an important part of progressing a career in hairdressing, so update them as the year goes on.
3. Prioritise
Wherever possible, prioritise your tasks. Whether you are looking at your daily to-do list or longer-term goals, put tasks in order of importance, including a time or date when they should be completed.
You could break tasks down in this way:
- Do immediately: Important tasks that just can’t wait.
- Schedule for later: Tasks with no defined deadlines.
- Delegate: If you are a manager don’t be afraid to pass a task on to a member of the team.
- Delete: If you realise a task isn’t essential, get rid of it! Free up your time for things that really are important.
4. Set reminders
I find the reminders app on my phone invaluable. Set timely reminders so that you receive an alert in advance of a deadline.
5. Learn to say no
Hairdressers are by nature people-pleasers, but don’t let this desire to please leave you overworked and overwhelmed. It’s okay to say ‘no’. Overloading yourself so that you get stressed and perform under par is not good for you or your business.
Cover Image Credits:
@cossakkasofficial
@toniandguydigitalacademy
@toniandguyworld
@hairdressersjournal
@schwarzkopfprouk
