Grateful, Not Burned Out

Hello, hello and welcome back to Greedy Bitch, the podcast for groomers who are done apologizing for wanting more. I’m your host, River Lee, founder of The Savvy Groomer — and if you’re listening to this while staring at a pile of towels, brushing out a doodle, or half-living on caffeine and leftover Halloween candy… breathe with me for a second. You did it. You made it through November — the month that feels like a tug-of-war between gratitude and grind. We just survived the “Turkey Month Trifecta” — too many dogs, too many deadlines, and not nearly enough naps. Now we’re staring down December — that magical, slightly unhinged season where everyone wants to be on your nice list while simultaneously acting like they belong on your naughty list. And before we dive headfirst into bows, Santa photos, and last-minute “just one more” calls, I want to pause and talk about something groomers rarely do this time of year: gratitude for ourselves. Because gratitude isn’t just about your clients, your dogs, or your bookings. It’s about appreciating how far you’ve come… and giving yourself permission to rest before the next round begins. So today, we’re slowing down, taking stock, and getting real about what you’re not bringing into December. You don’t need to earn your rest. You’ve already earned it. Let’s be honest — Thanksgiving gets all the hype for being the “season of gratitude,” but somewhere between the mashed potatoes and the matted doodles, most of us skipped right past it. We confuse gratitude with over-giving. We think, “I should be thankful, so I shouldn’t complain. I should just push through. I should take one more client, work one more hour, or skip lunch again because — hey — at least I’m busy.” But that’s not gratitude. That’s burnout dressed up like Thanksgiving dinner. Gratitude isn’t about ignoring your exhaustion — it’s about acknowledging your effort. It’s looking back at the chaos and saying, “Wow. I really did that.” You kept dogs safe. You kept clients happy. You kept your doors open, your shears sharp, and your sanity mostly intact. And if you’re listening to this, that means you cared enough to keep growing — not just grooming. But here’s the catch: you can’t receive gratitude if you’re running on empty. You can’t enjoy the fruits of your labor if you’re too tired to taste them. If your idea of celebrating a successful month is collapsing on the couch with take-out and scrolling through client messages you haven’t answered yet… that’s not success. That’s survival. So let’s change that. Let’s talk about what it really looks like to move from grateful but exhausted to grateful and grounded. Here’s what I want you to do — and yes, you can do this mentally while you groom. Think back on November. What worked? What made you proud? What left you feeling like, “That was worth it”? Maybe it was the way you handled a difficult client with calm confidence. Maybe it was finally saying “no” to that once-a-year emergency husky. Maybe it was enforcing your matting policy, or remembering to eat something green that wasn’t a jolly rancher.. Now, let’s look at the other side — the things that drained you. That moment when you felt resentful. That day you skipped lunch and snapped at your bather. That time you squeezed someone in “just this once” and immediately regretted it. We’re not judging — we’re observing. Reflection isn’t about guilt; it’s about data. You can’t fix what you won’t face. So if you noticed that your income didn’t match your effort, that’s not failure — that’s a clue. If you noticed you’re crankier with clients or shorter with your own pets at home, that’s not shame — that’s your body saying, “Hey, I’m done.” The best groomers aren’t the busiest ones — they’re the ones who listen when their energy talks back. So, what’s your energy telling you right now? You know how we tell clients that matting doesn’t magically go away — it only gets worse if you ignore it? Yeah, burnout’s the same way. So before December starts, let’s de-mat your mental space. Let’s brush out what doesn’t belong anymore. If you’re holding onto guilt — let it go. If you’re still obsessing about that one bad review or that one client you couldn’t please — let it go. If you’re still undercharging someone out of pity — please, for the love of your sanity, let. it. go. You are not a machine. You are not a holiday miracle worker. You are a human with limits — and that’s a good thing. So here’s what I want you to do this week: Pick one thing to release before December hits. Maybe it’s dropping a red-flag client. Maybe it’s removing one service that doesn’t make sense anymore. Maybe it’s giving yourself permission to close early one day a week. Whatever it is, write it down. Say it out loud. Because clarity creates calm. You can’t be grateful if you’re buried under guilt. You can’t be present if you’re running on panic. You deserve a version of success that doesn’t require suffering. Let’s talk about the thing groomers struggle with the most: rest. I know — even the word feels wrong in your mouth. We’re a community built on hustle. We wear exhaustion like a badge of honor. But rest isn’t laziness — it’s maintenance. Think about your tools. You wouldn’t groom a full day with dull blades or skip cleaning your tub because “there’s no time.” So why do you treat your mind and body any different? Gratitude isn’t just saying “thank you.” It’s showing thank you — to yourself. You thank yourself by scheduling a break. You thank yourself by eating a real lunch instead of protein bars and promises. You thank yourself by closing your books when you said you would. Because when you rest, you come back sharper. Kinder. More creative. More you. And that version of you — calm, confident, and cared for — that’s the one your clients, your dogs, and your business truly need. Now, before we wrap up, I want to remind you — gratitude and profit can coexist. In fact, they should. If you’ve been nodding along all month thinking, “I know I need to raise my prices, but I just feel guilty,” this is your sign. Gratitude for your clients doesn’t mean charging less. It means running a business that will still exist next year so you can keep serving them. If you haven’t yet, go check out the Price Increase Masterclass at SavvyGroomer.com/PIMC It’s the step-by-step guide to figuring out exactly what to charge, how to communicate it without guilt, and how to handle any pushback like the pro you already are. Because you don’t need to work harder — you just need to charge like someone who’s already earned it. And friend, you have. Before we go, I want to leave you with this thought: You don’t have to start December exhausted just because everyone else is. You can choose peace over pressure. Boundaries over burnout. Gratitude over guilt. Take a deep breath. Let it out. And say this with me: “I’m grateful for how far I’ve come. I honor my limits. My peace is profitable.” You’ve already done enough. You’ve already earned your rest. Now it’s time to receive it. If today’s episode hit home, share it with a fellow groomer who needs to hear that rest isn’t failure — it’s strategy. I highly suggest you check out our free Holiday Boundaries scripts and you can get that at SavvyGroomer.com/HolidayBoundaries And if you’re ready to start the new year with confidence and clarity, grab your spot in the Price Increase Masterclass at SavvyGroomer.com/PIMC Until next time — stay grateful, take a nap, and as always… stay greedy, bitch.