De-stressing In December: How To Get The Right Work/Life Balance Over Christmas For Massage Therapists!

How are you feeling right now, with Christmas around the corner?

A) Super excited - I love Christmas!

B) Fine - Feeling the pressure but I know I’ll enjoy it when it comes.

C) Overwhelmed - I’m not ready! There’s so much to do!

D) Not my thing - I'd rather be lying on a beach far away from it all.

If you’re juggling seeing family and friends, getting ready for Christmas AND running your massage business, chances are high that your answer is C or D (if it’s A or B - good for you! You don’t need to read any further! ;-) )

Christmas is supposed to be fun, but for a lot of us, the pressure we are under in December can make it feel more like something to survive rather than celebrate.

The urge to say "yes" to every invitation, client request, or Christmas party can make us exhausted. When we own our own business, this time of year can become a test of balance between looking after our clients and making sure there’s time for rest, friends and family.

If it’s all feeling a bit overwhelming right now and you’d rather run for the hills (or lie on a beach) than do Christmas, here are 5 Tips to help you prevent overwhelm, cut down on stress, and say “no” kindly – so you can actually enjoy the next few weeks!

1. Acknowledge the overwhelm!

Before we take a look at some strategies to help you, just take a moment to check in with how you’re actually feeling.

The run-up to Christmas, even in the best years, can be intense. Add in the pressure of managing a business, not to mention any “life stuff” you might have going on, and things can get out of hand very quickly.

It’s so important to recognise that feeling overwhelmed isn’t a personal failing. It’s natural, especially when there’s a lot of demands being put on you, and there’s an urge to “do it all” and to “do it right”. So just take a minute to acknowledge this.

Once you’ve done that -now give yourself permission to make decisions that prioritise YOUR well-being AS WELL as everyone else’s!

2. Set boundaries with clients

In December, our clients are often also feeling the stress. You might find they start cancelling at the last minute because of their own busy schedules or because they don’t have the money for a treatment right now. Yes, it’s important to be understanding, but it's also important to have boundaries around your availability and cancellation policies.

Here are some ideas:

Create a cut-off for new appointments
Decide in advance when you will stop taking new appointments. Tell this to clients early, letting them know that your appointments are filling up, and they might not be able to book at the last-minute. This can prevent a scramble to fit everyone in and gives you more control over your time.

Remind clients of your cancellation policy
December is a good time to give a gentle reminder of your cancellation policy. Make sure clients know if you charge for last-minute cancellations. A little heads up can help clients think twice before cancelling - and to respect the time you've blocked out for them.

Give yourself room to breathe
Sometimes, you might want to make exceptions to your boundaries for loyal clients or under special circumstances. If that’s the case, do it - but with clear limits. For example, set specific hours for last-minute appointments, or offer to add clients to a waiting list instead of squeezing them in at a time that you’d rather not be working.

Remind clients that taking care of themselves is especially important during this time of year.. A quick message like, “The run-up to Christmas can be overwhelming. This is a great time to take care of yourself, so I look forward to seeing you on….!” can gently encourage them to keep their appointments.

Boundary-setting with clients – Scripts to use:

Here’s a phrase you could use for clients who want to book last-minute:

“I’m sorry, I’m fully booked for December. If you’d like, I can add you to my waiting list or make you an appointment for early January, where I’ll have more availability. Thank you for understanding!”

For cancellations, try this gentle reminder:

“I understand how busy it is a this time of year, and I appreciate you letting me know that you might struggle to make the appointment. Just a reminder that my policy requires 24 hours’ notice for cancellations, which helps me manage my schedule. Thank you for understanding!”

3. Prioritise personal time

It’s not just clients who need boundaries—setting them with yourself is important too! The busy-ness of December can make us overcommit to things, so it helps to be mindful when you’re filling your diary to protect your personal time. Make sure you ring-fence time for the things that matter to you personally.

Block off family and personal time
Go into your calendar and block off specific dates or times for family get- togethers, your own “me-time”, or just some rest. This reserved time is non negotiable; having it set in advance will help you resist the urge to say “yes” to everything!

Balance your schedule
Look at your calendar each week and make sure it’s balanced. Don’t push in too many treatments in a day or book too many days in a row without a break. No matter how important it is to get money in, your health is more important! So be thoughtful when you’re filling your calendar to prevent burnout. (This also makes sure that you have the energy to give your best for every client.)

4. Say “No” kindly

Setting boundaries is often easier when you have a prepared response. Here are a few phrases that make it easier to say “no” while still being respectful and kind:

1. For personal commitments

Use the phrases below to set boundaries when you’re tempted to say “yes” to everything:

“I really appreciate the offer! I’m trying not to add too much to my plate at the moment, so I’m keeping things light. Thank you for understanding.”

OR

“Thank you so much for the invitation (or request). I am fully booked this month and am making a point to try and balance my time better. I hope you understand, and I’d love to catch up again after Christmas!”

2. For keeping to time in treatments

We’ve all had that client who likes to talk, while you’re surreptitiously looking at your watch! Here’s some things you could say to encourage them either onto the massage couch or out of the door.

In the Consultation
“It sounds like you really need this massage!. Let’s get you on the couch so you can have as long as possible, it would be a shame for you to miss some of the massage because we’ve been talking.”

After the treatment finishes
“I’m so glad you enjoyed the treatment! Just a reminder that our session will end at [time] to make sure I’m ready for my next client. If you’d like to book another session, I’m happy to chat about a follow-up appointment.”

I hope these tips help you to reassess how you manage your time, so you can approach Christmas with less stress and more enjoyment.

December is never going to be a month when it’s easy to destress, but make sure you put healthy boundaries in place. If you are able to set limits with clients and say no when you need to, you can give yourself a break over this period and set yourself up for a more relaxed start to the new year.

Have a very happy Christmas!

Business mentor for massage therapists, Nikki Wolf has over 20 years in the industry; including teaching, owning a massage school, and managing spas. Nikki is on a mission to demystify marketing for therapists and empower them to build their own thriving businesses. When she isn't massaging or mentoring, she’ll be walking on the beach with her dog, Storm. Find out more about mentoring at Orchid Massage Academy.