With the dark nights making a return and the colder days feeling extremely short, it can take a lot to keep your team motivated.
Employees are faced with beating the gloomy weather, flu season, and the financial stress of the festive season which can understandably create a lack in motivation and a dip in productivity.
At Urban Hair & Beauty, as a team, we help each other beat the winter blues by putting several things in place: better lighting, uplifting music, and always making sure to celebrate the wins no matter how small they are.
Upgrade Your Salon Lighting
In the winter months, it can feel like you start work when its dark and leave work when its dark, especially in Scotland! Upgrading your salon lighting can help beat the winter blues by mimicking the natural daylight that we miss throughout the day. This helps eliminate the gloomy, high-contrast shadows that cause seasonal fatigue. With winter skin looking washed out, warmer lighting around the salon can help flatter the complexion in styling mirrors, triggering an immediate emotional lift.
Play Uplifting Music
There is nothing better than a dopamine boost from some good music. Starting the day with a high-energy playlist helps set the mood for the rest of the day. This helps distract the team from the dreary weather outside and creates a vibrant atmosphere in the salon. Our team love a throwback playlist, which keeps the energy upbeat throughout the day.
Celebrate Small Wins
Celebrating smalls wins is a powerful way to beat the winter blues in salons because it directly targets the physical and mental fatigue that staff experience during dark, cold months. In this industry, winter often brings the harsh contrast between the pre-holiday rush and the slow slump in January. By intentionally recognising the small wins, whether it’s the perfect blend in a balayage or a lovely client review, it creates a positive feedback loop that re-energises a tired stylist.
Use the New Year Intentionally
The best way to replace the post festive season slump is to turn the slow season into a productive period. Setting team goals gives staff a clear focus when the salon is quieter after the new year. Use quiet weeks to schedule team training, workshops or education days to help break up the weeks and excite staff about the new year and their craft. Focus on milestones that give the team something to work towards and look forward to.