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What other paths outside of massage should I take?
I have been an LMT going on five years now and I am MENTALLY drained. Physically I am fine and could honestly do this back to back and not burn energy at all. Mentally I am drained, and every time I work on a client I feel like crying after.
I'll make it simple. I am an introvert and single ( I have never been good at personal relationships) therefore I feel like I don't have a lot of emotional support to be able to offer much to clients. Although I'm very good and knowledgeable at massage, I lack emotional fulfillment . It's hard to feel someone's cup when mine is almost empty.
I do want to stick with or in the massage world but I can't devote anymore than two days anymore working on people. I am mentally drained.
What other routes can I take. What are some other good jobs/hustles to make ends meet?
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Jodecie !
I am sorry to know that you are experiencing changes about your career, but it is a good thing to continue with it two days a week as you've said.
This is something that you will have to decide about as you know yourself better than anyone else. Although massage is hands on direct working on people, it's usually very calm, quiet, and not dealing with crowds, so I am not sure what the root cause of your discontent may be.
Big advice: never let your personal life affect your professional life. I know, easier said than done, but this is something we all need to remind ourselves about when going through hard times. Massage is a career that brings one into a very quiet, calm and relaxing environment, so maybe it's not anything to do with your work at all. With any other work, you may have to deal with lots of people in a hectic environment unless you do some sort of work you qualify for online remotely. So your first step in resolving this will be to be true to yourself about what is mentally exhausting you and make a plan to change that. You know yourself better than anyone else, so you'll have to explore options first hand.
Keep in mind that when people come to you for spa massage, they are not expecting anything more than the massage. What more do you think you need to offer them ? There are massage therapists that do talk to the client while working on them and carry a mutual conversation, but not all do that and that's perfectly fine.
Maybe you should consider taking a short vacation, nothing expensive, but a place that you can relax and be pampered at. Sometimes, we all need that break to refresh ourselves !
It's going to be very important for you to get in touch with what is causing your mental discomfort and focus on what steps you can take to resolve it. Sometimes getting another job is not the answer.
Most of all, do not give up ! You can get through the rough patches. I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
I am sorry to know that you are experiencing changes about your career, but it is a good thing to continue with it two days a week as you've said.
This is something that you will have to decide about as you know yourself better than anyone else. Although massage is hands on direct working on people, it's usually very calm, quiet, and not dealing with crowds, so I am not sure what the root cause of your discontent may be.
Big advice: never let your personal life affect your professional life. I know, easier said than done, but this is something we all need to remind ourselves about when going through hard times. Massage is a career that brings one into a very quiet, calm and relaxing environment, so maybe it's not anything to do with your work at all. With any other work, you may have to deal with lots of people in a hectic environment unless you do some sort of work you qualify for online remotely. So your first step in resolving this will be to be true to yourself about what is mentally exhausting you and make a plan to change that. You know yourself better than anyone else, so you'll have to explore options first hand.
Keep in mind that when people come to you for spa massage, they are not expecting anything more than the massage. What more do you think you need to offer them ? There are massage therapists that do talk to the client while working on them and carry a mutual conversation, but not all do that and that's perfectly fine.
Maybe you should consider taking a short vacation, nothing expensive, but a place that you can relax and be pampered at. Sometimes, we all need that break to refresh ourselves !
It's going to be very important for you to get in touch with what is causing your mental discomfort and focus on what steps you can take to resolve it. Sometimes getting another job is not the answer.
Most of all, do not give up ! You can get through the rough patches. I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Melissa D Goldsmith, SIP, CST, MMT, MLD-C, NCTMB, LMT, RYT
Professional Massage Therapy and Rolfing
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Melissa D’s Answer
Hi, as a massage therapist for the past 26 years, I have acquired a range of skills in related fields to stretch and grow both personally and professionally. I personally like working with people, so I have done things like Stretch training, Chiropractic Assisting, and Yoga Teacher Training. Most recently, I have even gone back to school to finish my Bachelor's degree in English because I enjoy writing. From what I have read about you, I believe that something quieter and subdued may be a better fit, like working at a bookstore or a library. If you enjoy animals, consider volunteering at an animal shelter and possibly becoming a temporary foster parent. Find what gives back to you and makes you feel fulfilled--with it, you should start feeling like yourself again. And remember to get massaged yourself.
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Annah’s Answer
Jodecie- I literally "feel ya!" Not because I am an LMT but as a mental health provider it is exhausting to give all day long, especially as an introvert. Your job has the extra issue of being very physical; it means you have to stay in top condition and even then, it has got to be hard on the body. I know many a massage therapist who had to transition into something different at a certain point. What you enter into depends most on what you enjoy doing, your personality, your skillsets, location, financial situation, and more. I know LMT's who transitioned into these positions (which may or may not be of interest to you)- cranial sacral therapy, reflexology, reiki, nursing, a massage school instructor, a somatic coach. My current LMT is moving into being an EMT and eventually a paramedic. No matter what you decide to do, it may have an expiration date. This is ok. It is pretty common for people to make lateral moves no matter what career. I am a licensed art therapist getting trained in core energetics; I see many a former/current LMT also entering the somatic field doing something slightly different. CE by the way was pioneered by Reich and involves deep energy work and trauma psychotherapy. Some suggestions that may also leverage what you know- entering into physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutrition, other types of body work like Feldenkrais or structural reintegration, physical education (instructor), personal training, or something more holistic like becoming an Ayurvedic practitioner. Again, it all depends on who you are; perhaps you want to do something entirely different and that is fine. If you feel stuck it may help to work with a career coach; plan to meet at least five sessions or so to narrow down a game plan. It may be useful to transition slowly- try doing part time massage while exploring something new. You may also choose to integrate different modalities into your practice; this can be a way to lessen the burnout. If you are offering several options for clients, you can enjoy a day filled with more than one kind of activity. For instance- you might offer foot baths, reiki, aromatherapy, tarot, and massage. But as separate or combined services. You may find you enjoy massage work more by mixing things up a bit. If you are connected to a massage school (alumnae) or community, I also suggest you talk with other people who may be feeling similarly. See what they are doing to stay fresh and energized. What kinds of moves are they making to keep their businesses afloat? You are by no means alone in feeling how you do; I wish you the best in crafting a life that works for you. And of course, in five years, you may need to re-evaluate! Your values may shift a little. Go with the flow! And best of luck.