The 5 Habits That Stop You From Running Behind-Full Guide (So You Make More Money and Lose Less Sanity)
Running behind is common in this industry. Appointments are basically educated guesses.
But “common” doesn’t mean “inevitable.”
Here are 5 habits we’ve used to stop the time-loss spiral, starting this week.
1. Study your schedule before your day starts
Take a few minutes before your first guest to look at your whole day. Build a game plan. Know where you have wiggle room and where you don’t.
This is how you stop “over-pleasing” and offering options you don’t actually have time for.
2. Stay on task when you go to the back room
Mix your color and get your butt back on the floor. Seriously.
Break room conversations will steal your time if you let them. (And the guest is still sitting there… wondering if you went to Starbucks.)
3. Let the guest do most of the talking (and keep working)
Appointments should be mostly about the client anyway. Ask questions, let them talk, and keep your hands moving. If you truly can’t talk and work at the same time, that’s okay, just don’t stop working every time the conversation gets good.
4. When color is processing, get your guest ticket ready
Instead of disappearing to scroll your phone, use that processing time to prep your ticket.
Put in every add-on, every treatment, every service you discussed and don’t forget to note your color formula.
Front desk support is amazing, but you are in charge of what you charge.
5. Avoid clips when you’re cutting (if you can)
This one surprises people, but hear us out: when you’re cutting, clips can slow you down. The fumbling. The re-clipping. Searching for the right one.
Try this: section and tuck forward over the ears instead. (Color + foil is different, we’re talking cutting.)
A quick reality check: your pace matters
We’re not going to pretend pace doesn’t matter. We have one walking speed and it’s fast.
It’s not for everyone, but if you’re feeling underpaid, ask yourself:
How do I move? Where am I slowing myself down?
One of our biggest “work smarter, not harder” habits is what you do while color is processing. Most people disappear. Break room. Phone. Time warp. And then you wonder why you’re running behind and your ticket is missing half the add-ons. Instead: during processing time, your ticket should be getting finished. Formula should be entered. Add-ons should be added. Everything should be ready before you walk them up front.
And here’s the part where tools matter: if your stuff isn’t right there with you, you won’t do it consistently. If you have to walk away, you’ll get distracted. If you have to hunt for what you need, you’ll push it off. That’s why The Quick Tray works as a system, it keeps your tools and your workflow right beside you. It’s the physical support for the habit. Less back-and-forth. Less “I’ll do it later.” More consistency.
If you want more “work smarter” habits, we’ll keep sharing what’s worked for us behind the chair.
xoxo,
Jenel & Lisa
