How I Actually Fit Gua Sha & Facial Massage Into My Busy Schedule
How I Actually Fit Gua Sha & Facial Massage Into My Busy Schedule
A client of mine asked me a question recently, and it inspired me to write this blog.
She's been following a skincare routine with me for years, and her skin has completely transformed. But if you've worked with me for any amount of time, you know I don't just hand you skincare and send you on your way. I take all of your goals into consideration and I educate you on literally everything. From topical products, to lifestyle tips and then of course— Gua Sha and Massage to meet your goals.
For her, those goals are reducing puffiness, especially through her neck and jawline. That's where Gua Sha, massage, lymphatic drainage, and facial exercises come in. Skincare products can absolutely improve your skin, but they can't release tension, improve muscle tone, or help move stagnant fluid. That's why I teach all of these things together. It’s why it’s a holistic approach.
She owns all of my courses, so she has every tool she needs. She just wasn't sure how to fit everything into her busy day.
She asked,
"How do you actually fit all of this into your schedule?"
I smiled because I think that's the question almost everyone has.
People assume I spend 30 or 40 minutes every morning doing my face.
I don't.
I don't do every technique every day.
I don't do every class every morning.
I simply make sure I spend some time on my face and neck most days.
This Is What I Actually Do
Every morning I make my coffee, sit down, and that's my time.
Some mornings I have 10 minutes.
Some mornings I have 20.
If I have a slower morning, I'll spend 30 because I genuinely enjoy it.
I usually miss about one day a week, too.
And that's okay.
I don't put pressure on myself to have the "perfect" routine anymore.
I just made it part of my morning.
The amount of time changes.
The habit doesn't.
Why I Make Time for It
I make time for this because I've experienced firsthand what consistent facial massage, Gua Sha, and neck work can do.
I honestly believe I look younger now at 32 than I did at 21.
That's a bold thing to say.
But I genuinely believe it's true.
I've seen HUGE improvements in my face and my neck. My jawline is more defined, my face is less puffy, and my neck looks healthier than it did years ago.
I've also gone a few weeks without doing my routine before.
And I noticed.
Not because every result disappeared overnight, but because I could see the puffiness slowly returning. I felt more tension in my face and neck, and everything looked a little less lifted.
That was all the proof I needed.
I stopped wondering if I had time.
I made the time.
Getting Started Is the Hardest Part
I think the hardest part for most people is simply getting started.
When you haven't seen results yet, it's hard to believe that 10 minutes can actually make a difference.
It's just like working out.
The first few weeks are always the hardest because you haven't experienced what your body is capable of yet.
Then one day...
You catch yourself in the mirror.
Or you see a picture of yourself.
And you realize something has changed.
Your jawline looks more defined.
Your face looks less puffy.
Your skin looks healthier.
Your neck looks smoother.
Once you start seeing those changes, showing up becomes so much easier.
And honestly...
Most of us can find 10 minutes.
We spend more than that scrolling on our phones daily without even realizing it.
Those little pockets of time really do add up.
If I Only Have 10 Minutes...
I'd spend them on my neck.
Every single time.
I know that's probably surprising because most people immediately focus on their face.
But, your neck is the foundation.
It holds so much tension, it ages right alongside your face (and honestly, sometimes even faster), and it plays such an important role in the way your face changes with the exercises you are doing.
If I had to choose between spending 10 minutes on my face or 10 minutes on my neck...
I'd choose my neck every single time.
Everything else builds from there.
If You're Just Getting Started...
Start with your neck.
Seriously.
Don't feel like you have to learn everything at once.
Trying to do every technique, every routine, and every class all at once is exactly what overwhelms people.
Build one habit first.
Once your neck routine becomes second nature, adding Gua Sha, facial massage, and lymphatic drainage becomes so much easier.
If I were starting over today, that's exactly where I'd begin.
The Biggest Thing I've Learned
If there's one thing I hope you take away from this, it's that you don't need an hour every day.
You don't have to do everything.
You just have to start.
Start with 10 minutes.
Start with your neck.
Keep showing up.
Those small moments add up in ways you can't see at first... until one day you look in the mirror and realize just how far you've come.
That's exactly why I still make time for it, even on my busiest days.
If you're ready to get started, here's the order I'd recommend:
Remember...
You don't need more time. You need a routine you can come back to.
Because consistency isn't about doing everything.
It's about doing something often enough that it becomes part of your life.
