Bartending can be extremely rewarding for people who naturally think “outside the cubical.” While flexible shifts, a creative work environment and stimulating customer interactions are just a few of the many rewarding aspects of working behind the stick, the work can also extract a heavy toll.
Working Without A Net
For creative, unique individuals seeking a livable wage outside the confines of corporate culture, tending bar is an attractive career choice.
“I did a nine-to-five for a long time, and my body isn't built for that,” says Jill Anderson, a Chicago area bartender and manager. “I'm much happier, and I feel healthier working the hours that I'm working.”
But the freedoms afforded by bartending often come without the safety net of subsidized health care and wellness benefits, like in-office gyms. Making self-care a priority is essential to staying healthy over the course of a career serving spirits.
Life in The Fast Lane
Bartending’s most gratifying perks can come with the highest price. Many career bartenders list the variety and flexibility in hours as one of the most enjoyable aspects of serving, but rotating schedules – often requiring inconsistent sleep schedules – can lead to a condition known as shift work sleep disorder (SWSD).
“You may work a Thursday night shift until early Friday morning, and then be working brunch a few days later,” says Breakthru Illinois Beverage Specialist Michael Page. “That can be very taxing on someone’s body clock, whether they’ve been working for years or are new to the industry.”
The heightened social pressure to constantly be “on” – both behind the bar and on social media – can contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression in bartenders.
“We, as bartenders, give,” Anderson explains. “We start out with a full tank every single shift, and by the end of a Saturday night, if we haven't had guests put anything back in our tank, whether it's a smile, or a compliment, or even just acting polite in general – you feel that void.”
That pressure doesn’t end when the shift is over, now that many bartenders are expected to have an influential presence in social media’s cocktail culture.
“It really takes a toll on you, mentally,” says Natalia Cardenas, Breakthru Beverage Development Manager. “Checking in at every event, posting ‘Here I am! This what I’m doing! This is so much fun!’ You almost have to be a different person online.”
In addition to the emotional labor that bartenders take on, the physical toll can be high as well. A 12-hour shift with repetitive tasks such as shaking, stirring, carrying cases up and down stairs and slicing fruit can lead to injuries even for the most physically fit bartender.
“I'm dealing with trauma to my hand that hasn't gone away for months,” Anderson explains. “Repeated washings of my hands to the point where I have permanent damage to a couple of my fingers. When I'm doing twists, the oils from the lemon spray right over this particular spot on my fingers, which exacerbates the trauma that it's already experienced. It's where it hits when I'm stirring a spoon. It's where it hits when I'm opening a bottle. It's those little things, and your hands are your tools.”
Mixing Your Self-Care Solution
Self-care means different things to different people. Mattias Horseman, a spirits ambassador, is passionate about helping bar staff find the solution that works for them.
“As bartenders, we look for balance so much in cocktails, that we sometimes forget to look for balance within ourselves,” Horseman says. “We brush our teeth twice a day, right? But we don't think about our mental health. We don't even think about that once a day.”
As a response to these physical and mental challenges, many in the bartending field have created community-based resources to help deal with their unique circumstances.
“We’ve seen bars where the staff work together to get group rates at local gyms,” Page says. “Taking part in industry fitness challenges is another popular way to address both fitness and the mental health benefits of being part of a community.”
Horseman also stresses the importance of focusing on physical and mental well-being, explaining, “True health and true well-being is a complete balance of the physical and emotional. Exercise is great, but it's about the mental game too because you have to actually want to get up in the morning to go to the gym before your shift, even though your day finished at four in the morning. If you have good mental health, then you probably have a stronger chance of getting up and going to the gym.”
Anderson finds solace in her tribe of co-workers: “I think there's a special breed of bartender and server. We're already special. We're already damaged. And we're in the trenches. And you're expected to work together as a team, so that's part of it. And so, we create our own support network from that. It's our community of misfits. That kind of love and support, I think, is my healing balm.”
Page has also noticed a shift towards health-conscious industry events: “We’re seeing more sponsored events that are focused on overall fitness, getting bartenders out of the bar and instead of offering limitless drinks, teaching fitness classes or having a seminar on improving posture.”
Cardenas agrees: “Suppliers, restaurateurs and our peers are more and more excepting when you don’t want to sample every cocktail and menu item placed in front of you. And even more encouraging, suppliers are putting together events for bartenders who want to be healthy.”
While community-based solutions can be beneficial, Horseman stresses the importance of seeking professional help when challenges worsen.
“There are lots of community groups and Facebook groups that offer help,” Horseman says. “But if somebody isn't trained or if somebody doesn't have the qualifications necessary, they can be so detrimental to somebody who's really going through something really serious.”
For more information on building a healthier work life behind the bar, please check out these online resources:
Healthy Hospo: working to build a healthier, happier, more sustainable hospitality industry
Chefs With Issues: hosts a Facebook group where service industry workers can discuss and find resources.
Ben’s Friends: food and beverage industry support group for professionals struggling with addiction.