How to Cope with the Stress of Working in Clothing Retail

If you're a longtime veteran of the clothing retail industry, you are likely aware of the high levels of stress, tension and physical, mental and even emotional exhaustion that can and often does accompany such a job. Long hours spent on your feet coupled with rude, inconsiderate and pushy customers can quickly turn into a five to eight hour frustrating experience. Many clothing retail associates can easily spend up to an hour folding, colorizing and sizing just one table in their department, only to return five to ten minutes later and find it completely destroyed, strewn about and/or on the floor. Many customers are completely unaware of how much physically, mentally and emotionally-demanding work goes into recovering an entire store before and after closing hours have passed. If, like me, you often find yourself struggling to maintain your cool under such circumstances, check out these tips and suggestions. They just may help you avoid the stress headaches that come with the job!

1. Avoid being Overly Conscious of the Time or Constantly Checking your Watch

Although most retail associates are very time-conscious, it can often be a contributing factor to large amounts of unnecessary stress. Granted, it's only natural to look forward to getting off work and having some personal time or time with your friends and family. However, as time often seems to pass slowly when working in retail, it can be depressing to realize you still have four or five hours of your shift left when you feel as if you've already worked six. For this reason, you should strive to work for an extended period of time without even looking at your watch or a nearby clock. That way, when you finally do check the time and see that you only have an hour or two left, you will be more surprised and happy than upset and stressed.

2. Try Not to Take the Actions of Rude Customers Personal

This may perhaps be one of the most important tips for clothing retail associates and employees to abide by. It is very easy to not only become discouraged but even extremely angry when a customer behaves inconsiderately. However, if you wish to avoid the high stress levels associated with anger and bitterness, you simply cannot allow such actions to get to you.

Take the high road instead. If you happen to pass by a customer who is wrecking a table or rack of clothing, take a minute to stop and offer assistance, while simultaneously offering to refold any merchandise they have decided they do not want. With any luck, they will notice your attempt to clean up their mess and will allow you to locate the size and color they are seeking. Always remember that the majority of clothing retail customers have no concept of the level of work that goes into keeping the store clean, neat, organized, sized, colorized and altogether able to function smoothly, orderly and properly for their convenience. To be frank, you honestly cannot hold their inconsiderate shopping actions against them. They simply do not know any better.

3. Focus Only on your Section/Department of the Store

If you are a hard-working part-time floor associate who is often scheduled for evening closing shifts, it can easy to feel like the entire store is your responsibility, particularly when other employees do not pull their weight. Unfortunately, this will always be the case in the majority of retail chains across the country. In fact, clothing retail has one of the highest employee turnover rates of any job position in the nation. There will always be associates who do just enough to get by.

But even when this occurs, you cannot allow it to result in personal stress. If you find yourself unable to rely on your fellow associates, take a moment to speak with a manager about your concerns and then trust him/her to handle it. Focus entirely on your assigned department, until or unless your manager or department head asks you to move to another section of the store. Otherwise, leave the remaining areas of the store to the employees assigned to those specific departments. Even if you are forced to stay late after closing hours to finish storewide recovery, you will be less stressed in the end, having focused solely on your own tasks and not worried and stressed over the responsibilities and shortcomings of others.

4. Be Sure to Eat before and/or During your Lunch Break

This tip should go without saying. Unfortunately, too many part and full-time clothing retail associates believe they can skip a meal before or during their shift. This results not only in an unhealthy eating pattern, but also in a potential for hunger-related stress and crankiness. For this reason, you should always plan to eat before and/or during your break at work. If you will be working an 8 hour shift or more, you should be given an hour break.

While many associates often bring lunches from home to eat in the store break room, it can also be beneficial to leave the premises to pursue lunch elsewhere. Think of your lunch break as an hour-long stress relief opportunity. You have a chance to sit down somewhere and enjoy a meal away from the hustle and bustle of annoying and rude customers. You should take advantage of this and refresh yourself before reentering the chaos of the store.

So if you're a stressed out employee of the American clothing retail industry, keep the aforementioned tips and suggestions in mind in your next attempt to battle the daily frustrations associated with retail. You may just find it easier to wear a smile and give great customer service to your shoppers!