Self-Care for Florists: Helpful Tips For You & Your Team
You made it. Valentine's Day 2022 is in the books — the red roses, the chocolates, the icy roads, the flower drama, the employee drama, and yes, the foot pain. Aside from a few doghouse orders trickling in, the busiest day of the floral year is behind you. So this short episode is entirely about what comes next: taking care of yourself and your team. Vonda hands the mic to Ellie LaFever, Flower Clique's Creative Director and resident expert on work-life balance, for a post-holiday recovery plan worth saving for every busy season.
Why florist self-care gets ignored
Here's the irony Ellie points out: to consumers, flowers are self-care. Google "self-care for florists" and you'll find endless articles making the case for buying yourself weekly blooms — all aimed at the customer. Resources on how florists themselves can avoid burning out are almost nonexistent (she found one good piece from the Floral Coach, and that's about it). Meanwhile, burnout in this industry comes fast if you don't deliberately prioritize rest and resetting. Hence this episode — bookmark it for the week after every holiday.
The big three: eat, stretch, take a day
Ellie's top tips are simple on purpose. First, food and water. Think back on your Valentine's Day: how many hours went by without a sip of water, before you shoveled food in and felt worse? Two gulps of water and a bite of a granola bar, frequently, all day — that's the fuel that keeps your brain working and your patience intact for difficult customers. Second, touch your toes. You've been running around like a little chicken; stretch it out, wiggle, take three deep breaths — a down dog for extra credit — so you don't end the week stiff and achy. Third, take a day. Schedule a half or whole day to mentally and physically recover. Can't manage that? Then at minimum take yourself to lunch, sit at the bar with a book, and put your phone on Do Not Disturb for one hour. As Ellie asks: is that really too much?
Member-tested tips for during the chaos
From conversations with members and the podcast's Facebook group: keep platters of meat, cheese, fruit, and veggies at the shop for healthy grab-and-go snacking; stock plenty of coffee, iced coffee, creamer, and water so the team stays caffeinated and hydrated; have ready-to-heat meals waiting at home so dinner isn't regret-inducing takeout; keep a heated neck massager on hand for five-minute breaks; and yes, one member simply said "wine." Add short guided meditations (or five quiet minutes of breathing) morning or night, and Ellie's personal daily habit: write down three things you're grateful for each morning — it changes your whole outlook.
The week after: treat your team
Once the rush subsides, Ellie suggests three team-level moves: hire a masseuse to come to the shop for quick 15-minute neck and hand massages in rotations; take everyone out for a team dinner; or — her favorite — give employees an extra 30 to 60 minutes at lunch or let them leave early to catch up on all the personal errands they shelved while working for you. Small gestures, big message.
Permission to walk away
Vonda closes with the hardest part, speaking as a former shop owner: we convince ourselves nobody can do it like us, or we're afraid of missing one more order. Her hard-won truth — self-care is more important than that other little order. Her team could handle things in her absence, and customers who really wanted her would leave a message and wait. If you're a single-owner shop, give yourself permission to close for an hour or two this week. When you jump back in, you'll jump in with both feet, excited again — and that's the whole point of the break. Got a self-care ritual of your own? Email Lori at lori@flowerclique.com so the team can share it.
Key takeaways
- Hydrate and snack continuously during holiday rushes — small, frequent bites beat one late binge.
- Stretch during and after marathon design days; your body is part of your business equipment.
- Schedule real recovery time after every holiday — a day if you can, a protected lunch hour at minimum.
- Reward your team's holiday push: massages, a dinner out, or extra time off for neglected errands.
- Give yourself permission to step away — the shop survives an hour without you, and you return recharged.