126 - Chef, Are You Exhausted?

Oct 25, 2023

Today we are going to be talking about exhaustion chef. Are you exhausted? Are you tired? Are you we're coming up into the holiday season. And the big question is, are you ready for what's coming up? Again, my name is Nick Brown, and I am the founder of cooking physics. This is the inspirational chef I weekly masterclass, where I go deep, I dive deep into a certain concepts that affect us as chefs, and will help us to overcome the challenges that happen each and every single day. So what I want you to kind of think about right here is that we are heading into the holiday seasons. Okay? Right now, if you're watching this later, this is kind of the middle of October, we're going to be coming up into November with the Thanksgiving holidays, as well as the you know, the holidays during during December with the holiday parties, the company parties, and everything that is going on, where we don't really have those parties, we're the ones providing for those parties. And this is an excellent time for the business to make a lot of money. And because of that we're going to be working long hours, we're going to be working multiple days in a row. I personally have mostly worked in hotels. And so once that Christmas hits that winter break for school, it is hands on for 14 days straight, with very little breaks, very little time off. And really, it's just brutal. And if you don't really put your best foot forward, if you don't prepare yourself leading up to it, and then all of a sudden hitting that part right at the very end, it is brutal, and you can become exhausted. So today we're going to be talking about these exhaustion and what you can do to overcome this exhaustion and maintain and keep the energy throughout your shift. So what are some of these common things of accession? Well, obviously, it's the holiday seasons, it's going to be long hours. Obviously, it's going to be the multiple days in a row, it's going to be the high stress environment of a lot of people coming in to your restaurant, and eating, it's going to be a lot of company parties and all those things that are really going to amp up the stress and the the Yeah, just basically amp up the stress levels of working in this industry. So I want to take each one of this, I want to take this and put it into each one of these six rules for life chef style that I have explained to you in the previous weeks. And I'm going to take this thing about exhaustion. And I'm going to put it into each one of these rules, and how each one of these rules can help you overcome this exhaustion. So the first rule is taste everything. The whole point about tasting, everything is being present in the moment. Exhaustion, part of the feeling of exhaustion comes from that feeling that it's never going to end. It's just over and over and over. It's that stress that happens within your head within your mindset of another day, another day, another day, I still got eight more hours, I've already been working eight and I still got another eight hours to go. closing and opening and then closing and opening. And it's that being present in the moment is going to help you because instead of thinking ahead and everything that's going on and getting that stress into your into your mind, it's where am I at right now? What is going on right here right now. And focusing and being in the present moment, and tasting everything, okay? Realizing all of those opportunities, all of those great things that happen, like every single day in every single service that you're doing, being present tasting that victory of making it through that day, making it through that service, making it through that plate. Okay, so tasting everything and really begin to work on yourself. Okay, next rule Rule number two, focus on your mason plus, what is your mason plus Niessen pluses everything that's in front of you, right? So I want to tell you about the importance of making sure that it's not only the product that sitting in front of you, but it's your mason plus in your life. How are you organizing your life, you're going to be working a lot of days, a lot of hours, focus on making sure that your area is well prepared. Really focusing on those prep lists. Taking a moment to think about what's coming up, looking ahead at the next events, the next you know, reservations, how busy you're going to be. This is a time where you kind of understand how busy you're going to be each day because people make a lot more reservations during this time than they would otherwise. So get yourself into the mode and be ready for what's going on. Also, focus on your mason plus outside of work. What do you need to do when you get home? So that you can be successful moving forward? Okay. What do you need to do like your laundry, okay, figure out your laundry situation, figuring out what you're going to eat, figure out when you're going to do the chores when you're going to pay the bills, figure out when that's going to happen automate as much as you possibly can. And really get into it get into that habit of everything gets taken care of by itself. Okay? The other thing when it comes to your focusing on your mason plus, is making sure that your home is a nice place to work, or a nice place to be okay. The next rule, the rule of three, the rule of three deals with advanced preparation. It deals with goals, it deals with your vision and your goals and your mission, what's going to happen, and how you're going to move forward. The rule of three deals with when it comes to your work, sitting right there right in front of you, it is going to help with your meeting plus, the rule of three with when in regards to the restaurant is that you prep three days in advance three days of normal service. Well, this is the time where that normal service is going to be amped up. So make sure you prep for those three days of normal service amped up service for the entire time of the holidays, because you will be going through your prep. If you maintain this rule of three in your prep, you will always be on top of it, you will never be in the weeds, because you don't have enough prep, you will never be in the weeds. Because you're having to work and dice and cut and wash and all those kinds of things in the middle of service. Leave the line to go grab your stuff. Okay. The rule of three also pertains to your advanced planning. Again, we were talking about a little bit in the meeting plus, what are you doing, when you're going to do your things? What are your goals during this time? What is your goal for the day your days? You know, obviously, the easy goal is just make it through the day, right? But what is your goal? As your your goal is to make it through the day but be energized at the end of the day? How are you going to do that? What are you going to do? What are the steps that you're going to take throughout your day so that by the end of the shift, you are fully energized. We talked about being exhausted a lot. And we talked about having to work and we're on our feet and the high stress and the heat and all of the you know the yelling and the fast pace and the perfection that has to happen and it can wear you down. What are you going to do to make sure that that does not happen? The rule of three helps you figure this out. Plan ahead. When are you going to take your breaks. Again, I've talked about this in previous times. But when are you going to take your break? And what I mean by that is how are you going to organize yourself so that you've got a a time slot where you're doing this and then taking a break. You got your service time and you're taking a break. You got to clean up time and you're taking a break and you got you're going home time. Okay. During the holidays, sometimes that cycle happens three times. Okay. You prep Your service, you clean your prep you serve clean, prep, surf clean, you're going out throughout the time, if you just go from one to the next to the next without breaking it up without stopping, you will become exhausted. Take those breaks. When are you going to take that breaks? When are you going to eat? When are you going to drink? Okay? Take five minutes. After each section that you've got, take five minutes, two minutes, doesn't really matter how long. Try and get it at least five minutes. If you can't do it three minutes, okay. But go to someplace quiet. If you can get outside. If this is going to be a long, long day, get outside, get outside, relax, okay, just release it. Just kind of close your eyes release, take some deep breaths. Really just that is done, you're done with that section of your day. Okay, you're done, release that section, release that section. Okay, you're done. You've done everything you can, you're going to be starting out. Okay? taking lots of deep breaths, relaxing your mind. Okay. And then once you feel like you're relaxed, start to pump yourself up and get ready for the next time. Okay, you're on the balls of your feet, start bouncing up and down. Just kind of follow me just bouncing up and down. Start taking your deep breaths, but take them quicker, take them quicker. Okay, really getting in there, really get in there, start bouncing up and down, start going, Okay, you're ready, you're ready, build up that energy, build up that energy. Okay, this is what I'm going to do. You're going to be getting into service, we're going to be rocking it, I've got everything that I need to get, I've got my mason plus ready, I've checked it before I took this break. I'm gonna get in there, we're going to crush it, I'm gonna crush it, it's going to be amazing. build yourself up, get it get amped up, and then go back in there into the kitchen and rocket. Okay, at the end of the shift at the end of the service time, do the exact same thing. Get out there who boy that was stress. You've gotten a lot of stress that's built up, calm down, relax, release that stress you're done. You're absolutely done with that part. did good. You did the best you could everything that you did before. Okay, release it. If it didn't go quite so well. That's okay, you've got another day. Just release it, release it. Okay. Sit there, start at the end, start pumping yourself up. Okay, I'm going to get in and I'm going to clean, I'm going to get everything ready. I'm going to fill up my prep list. So I know exactly what I'm going to do when the next day so that I'm when I go home. I'm not thinking about work. That's the whole point is when you're done with your shift, when you're done working your day, you go home and you're not thinking about work. You've released all of that stress before you even got into the car. Before you even started heading home, you released all that stress, you did everything you possibly can leading up to it. Following this rule of three and you're gonna get in there, you're gonna go home and you got to relax. Rule number four, maintain a clean and organized area. This does not this has not happened just with your work. Clean as you go. Make sure you've got all your mason plus organization clean as you go. You know, make sure everything is good. So that you don't create a big mess, you don't create that chaos. You don't add to the actual chaos that happens of service. Service is chaotic preps, prep time is chaotic. Okay. Do not add to that by creating a chaotic environment where you are messy. Take the time to clean as you go. Be intentional in what you're doing. Don't do too many things at the same time. Okay. As you build up your endurance as you build up your skills, you will be able to do more and more and more. Always strive to push that envelope but do not do too much on a consistent basis. Push yourself find out where that too much too much is and pull back a little bit work until that feels comfortable and push yourself again. Okay. Maintain that clean and organized area if you can work and have a clean apron and have your clean workstation that is going to help you to remove a lot of stress, a lot of chaos in your time. It in your environment at work, it's going to reduce the levels of exhaustion that's going to happen because you're not constantly thinking about all of the other stuff and just having a chaotic environment around yourself. The other part of maintaining a clean and organized area is also at your home. When you go home, you're probably not going to be there very often. Call me only gonna be there just enough time to grab something to eat, fall asleep, and then get back to work. That's what happens at this time. So when you get home, make sure that there's this rule that my mom, and my grandmother always told me, it's like, everything has a place and everything in its place. Keep your home clean and organized as well. Because you're going home. And you want to go to an environment that is inviting, that environment is calm, because work is crazy. And if you're at work, and it's crazy, and then you go home and your home is a mess, and it's crazy, then it's just, it's just a cycle over and over and over and you're never gonna get that rest that you need to be able to make it through this holiday season without getting burned out and exhausted. So go home, make sure your home is clean, put things away that they need to be okay. Yes, I'm acting like your mother at this point in time. But I'm telling you, it helps immensely in what you're going to be doing moving forward. Okay. The last thing is keeping a clean and organized area that's yourself. It's very difficult to eat healthy at this point in time, make sure you take the time to be intentional in what you eat. Make sure you take the time to drink enough liquids. Okay. And also, this is coming from a guy of faith. Okay? So take it as you will. But don't go home and drink. Don't go home and pass out with a beer in your hand. Okay, that's not going to get you the rest that you need. Use the methods that I told you about removing the stress. Heading release that stress. Don't go home and start watching TV or getting electronics or other things like that. Okay, during this time, if you're working this hard, you need the rest, the full rest. Start figuring out start learning some meditation. Okay, it doesn't have to be sitting there going home. Figure out what it is that provides that meditative state for you. For me, it was going for a walk or riding my bike somewhere or going up into the mountains. Okay, do those things. Take that time, right before bed, relax, stay off the electronics. Stay off of the alcohol. Go to bed, get the rest that you need. Okay, the next part, surround yourself with support. This is a big one. Okay? Because exhaustion happens. Can exhaustion can happen because you're all constantly helping other people fulfill their responsibilities. And you are not receiving any support yourself. Learn from mentors. Find yourself a mentor, right now, right here. If you're looking at if you're listening to this live for the next couple of days, still October Find yourself a mentor. Find yourself a coach. Find yourself someone who is going to help you on an individual basis to grow to develop to withstand the exhaustion that's going to come again, the holidays are common. It's going to be heavy, heavy hitting and you're going to be working really hard. But find that support that you need to be able to overcome this feelings of exhaustion. Find that person that you trust that you're willing to share with them what's going on in your life. Let them know all of the difficulties that are going on. Share that with them if nothing else, get yourself a friend that you can vent to but make sure that that friend doesn't allow you to complain vent get it off your get it off your chest that releases that stress but it's not a complaining good enough your stress okay, what are you going to do alright well work was horrible. They, the guys just wouldn't do anything the response So I was just really frustrated, okay? Okay, what are you going to do? All right, I'm going to make sure that my station is ready early, I'm going to make sure that I am ready. And then I'm going to go and see how I can help the other guys. Okay? Use that. Use that friend, use that coach to be able to vent. But make sure it's only event and it's not a complaining, okay, getting rid of it, and then getting back to work and figure out what are you going to do differently, to be able to make sure that that doesn't happen again. And the last rule is serve recklessly or sorry, serve with intention. Okay, serving with intention. Again, it was that other part that that that section, that next part that I talked about getting in there, getting your stuff done first, and then going out there and starting helping the others serve with intention. Another thing you can do if you can find the time. In fact, make the time to get out during this holiday season, and serve others. Get out of your environment, get out of what you're doing, get out of yourself and serve somebody else that at that small act, will reinvigorate you will help you to just realize what it is you're doing. Get out and serve in this during this time. Take a moment, take a breather, you're gonna have at least one day off. Take some time and go find somebody to help. If you're if you're religious like me, I usually try and find somebody that I can help within within my church. Okay. Go out and visit. I love singing, I go out and caroling during the holidays with my family. It's a lot of fun. Nobody does it anymore. Everybody, everybody kind of sings off key and all that kind of cool, weird stuff. But like every single house that you go to, they're like, oh my goodness, I didn't think people did this anymore. I think get so excited to invite you in and you're chit chat for a little bit. And then you go on to the next house and just go caroling for one night. Just plan it out. Okay? Go help out at a soup kitchen, or a homeless shelter. Okay, you've got experience to serve people food, you've got that experience, go out there and serve your community. Help other people. Find yourself a giving tree, grab something, give serve, that will help you so much in making sure that you do not become exhausted, it will be reinvigorate you, it will be like that is why I'm here. I am here to help other people. We are in this industry because we love to help other people. We love to serve. So go out and serve during this holiday season. Take that time and serve with intention. If you know what I'm talking about, you start to see this effects that that are from what I'm doing. The things that I'm telling you about. Serve your other, your other cooks by letting them know sharing your knowledge with them. Show them what it is and how you can maintain that energy to make it through the entire shift. And boy, we're going to be coming into some heavy long shifts. But you can do it. So I challenge you. Re rewatch this episode. When you know in November right before it's right before Thanksgiving, rewatch this episode. Again in December sometime you can go to my YouTube channel. They are there at at cooking physics duck. And I'm also going to be putting it on my blog on my website, www dot cooking physics.com/blog. But really, take this time, feel good about what's going on. serve other people. You can do it. If you're exhausted. Take these steps, follow my six rules and really learn how you can maintain that energy and that excitement and really get out there and you can work your butt off. And at the end of the day, you're super exhausted. But it's a good exhaustion. It's not the dreaded exhaustion like Hey, I gotta go back to work tomorrow. It's a I killed it today. I am so tired. I can't wait to go to bed. Okay, Make sure that it is a physical exhaustion of a good day's work hard day, you're happy, you're excited, you're ready to go for the work the next day. If you follow these rules, I guarantee you will have one of the best holiday seasons that you have ever had. People will start asking you, What in the world were you doing? How did you make it all the way through to New Year's Eve and still like super excited, like everybody else is gonna be pissed off. Everybody else is gonna be annoyed. Everybody else is gonna be exhausted to the point where they don't care about anything. And you're just gonna be the odd Yeah, maybe I know that doing this is awesome. This is great, you know? So follow these rules. Get in there. And rocket. I will see you again next week, where I'm going to be talking about do we live for work? Or do we work to live? So I'll be talking about that next week. And about work life harmony and all that kind of good stuff. So thank you so very much. I will see you next week.