Fatigue. Dehydration. Dizziness. Headaches. Any of these sound familiar? Just another day in the life of an overworked lash artist, right? That use to be what I thought until I decided to take control in 2018. Control of my schedule, my career and, most importantly, my health and well-being. Being a lash artist is a sedentary career. Let’s face it, we sit for the majority of the day. And, if you are like me, you are booked with back-to-back appointments leaving little to no time for breaks. It’s true that hard work brings success but there is such a thing as too much. I’ve been down this road before and want to help you live a healthier lifestyle as a lash artist. Here are my 5 pillars of health every industry professional should follow…
1.Refuel. This is important. Clear at least 1/2 hour to eat each day at the bare minimum. Remember, food is fuel. If you don’t properly fuel your body, you will not be able to give 100% while lashing. It’s unrealistic to plan for a relaxing hour-long lunch each day, but smaller meals more frequently can help rev up your metabolism and keep you focused. I’d recommend packing a few high protein snacks to help give you energy throughout the day. Try foods like yogurt, nuts and veggies with dip to refuel.
2. Challenge. Push yourself to be a little better each day both mentally and physically. Add an extra 5 minutes to your workout or go up 5lbs in the weights you lift. We cannot get stronger unless we push harder each time. Challenge yourself mentally by improving your lash skills each day! Identify your strengths and weaknesses and find ways to improve. It’s also important to never stop learning! Challenge yourself to the next level whether it’s through classes or mentoring sessions.
3. Renew. From adequate sleep to daily mediation, renewal is an essential part of good health. For starters, make sure you are caught up on your Zs. Getting the recommended 6-8 hours of sleep a night can do wonders for your health! Don’t forget to add some daily meditation to your routine. Simple 10 minute meditation sessions can help you stay calm and focused. There are a lot of great apps out there to help get you started!
4. Preserve. This is, perhaps, the most important pillar. If you don’t have your health then what do you have? Preserving and improving my personal health is a commitment I made for 2018. With the help of the Health Max Center I’m starting to get my health on track! They helped me realize that a lot of the symptoms I’ve been experiencing are actually a result of poor spine health. I have committed to getting adjusted regularly to help with that. As you see in the first pic below, my spine is not aligned, the second pic; my neck is not curved like it should be (most likely because of holding it in the same position for hours the last 5 years + while lashing), and my arm is over worked. The doctor has placed kinesiology tape on my arm to help with the pain.
5. Love. And last, but certainly not least, don’t forget to LOVE. View each day as a gift. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Stay focused on your goals but count your bleeding each night. Love is the greatest gift of all. Developing a love for your life is all about creating balance and aligning these 5 pillars of health.
