The Post-Shift Recovery Routine You're Skipping (But Shouldn't)

You spend your day giving. Your hands work. Your body bends. Your energy flows with others.

And then your last client leaves, and what do you do? Put your sheets in the laundry basket, grab your keys, and rush home?

I used to do that too.

My Post-Shift Routine

Here's what I do after my last client leaves:

Express Gratitude
Before I do anything else, I take a moment to express gratitude—for my hands that did the work, for my body that held up, and to thank each client who trusted me with their healing.

Prepare the Space for Tomorrow
After my last client, I place a fuzzy blanket over the massage table and set my crown at the head of the table along with a bowl of ceremonial herbs and crystals. This ritual helps me manifest more premium ideal clients. It's my way of setting intention for who I want to attract into my practice.

Myofascial Unwinding for Accumulated Tension
This is where I address what my body held during the day. I stretch my fingers, wrists, shoulders, neck, and side body. I don't rush through this. I hold each stretch and let my body unwind, following where the fascia wants to release.

Ice or Heat as Needed
If any body part is inflamed, I ice it. If my mid-back is stiff, I apply heat. Sometimes I do an Epsom salt foot bath if my feet took the brunt of standing all day.

Energy Clearing
Just like I clear energy between clients, I do a full clearing at the end of the day. I use my pendulum to cleanse myself and my crystals with the command: "I cleanse, clear, and release across all time, space, dimensions, parallel lives, and multiverses."

If you don't use a pendulum, set the intention: "I release everything that isn't mine." Shake out your body. Visualize letting it all go.

This is how I leave my therapy mode at the office. Without this step, I'd carry client energy home with me, and that's not fair to me or my family.

The Transition Home

Once I've done my post-shift routine, I can fully transition out of work mode. I don't bring client stories home. I don't replay sessions in my head. I'm present for my husband, dog, cat, chickens, and garden.

This is the part I struggled with for years—not the therapy transition, but leaving the business side at the office. The planning, the marketing, the entrepreneurial thinking. I'm still working on that boundary. But at least the client energy stays where it belongs.

What You Can Start Today

If you're not doing any post-shift recovery, start here:

Minimum routine (5 minutes):

• Stretch your fingers and wrists

• Take three deep breaths

• Set the intention to release what you absorbed

Full routine (10 minutes):

• Express gratitude

• Full-body myofascial unwinding

• Energy clearing practice

We'll go deeper into myofascial unwinding and recovery techniques at Preventing Burnout: Self-Care & Body Mechanics for Massage Therapists on November 22nd. Learn practices that actually prevent chronic pain instead of just managing it.

Early Registration (ends Oct 31): $75 for 4 NCBTMB-approved CE credits
Text Goddess Wendy 616-566-1437 to register today.

Tomorrow we're talking about strength training—because cardio alone won't protect your career.

What does your post-shift routine look like? Or are you skipping this step entirely? Share in the comments.

Wendy | LMT 24+ years | Co-Author of Bod-E-Nomics: Your Body is Your Business