You don't have to do everything yourself.
Here are tools that actually help.
What You'll Learn
By the end of this post, you'll be able to:
- Find real help for your mental health and your business
- Use time-saving tools that don't cost a fortune
- Know when it's time to ask for help, and where to find it.
The Reality
Let's call him Tom. He's an ex-head chef who finally quit after a solid 12 years. Here's what he said:
"I finally made the decision and quit the restaurant industry... I've been cooking for 12+ years now. Started as a dishie and worked up to head chef which I was for 4 years. I worked my ass off every damn day and burnt myself out."
> — From a thread where 208 people wished him well
Tom didn't fail. The system failed him.
The thing is, when he posted this, 208 people jumped in to offer support. Not a single "you should have grafted harder" in sight. Just a whole load of "we get it."
The Walk-Away Moment
Another chef, another breaking point:
"Walked on Friday after raise denied. Started a year ago... accepted a low starting pay because I really needed the job. The standards there were so much lower than what I was accustomed to. I had asked for a raise at 6 months in, and was denied."
> — From a thread with 1,201 upvotes
1,201 upvotes. That's not because walking away is a breeze. It's because sometimes, it's the only sensible thing to do.
But what if you're not there yet? What if you're still trying to make it work?
Even The Best Struggle
Look, even success doesn't make things easy:
"Jamie Oliver has claimed his restaurant chains closed down because he is 'conceptually thick' and struggled to understand the maths."
> — On one of the most famous chefs admitting he got it wrong
If Jamie Oliver can screw up the numbers, maybe you're not just "bad at business". Maybe this industry is just brutally hard.
Mental Health Resources (Actually Free)
Hospitality Action: 0808 802 0282
- A free, confidential helpline.
- Specifically for people in hospitality.
- They can even offer financial help if you're in a crisis.
- Open 24/7.
The Burnt Chef Project: theburntchefproject.com
- Loads of mental health stuff for kitchen staff.
- Peer support groups.
- Training for managers, too.
Mind: mind.org.uk
- General mental health advice.
- Local support groups.
- Resources for mental health in the workplace.
Samaritans: 116 123
- 24/7, every single day.
- Sometimes you just need someone to listen, right?
Free Apps That Actually Help
These were recommended by a line cook on r/KitchenConfidential:
For anxiety:
- Woebot: An AI chatbot for daily check-ins.
- MindShift CBT: Tools based on cognitive behavioral therapy.
For crisis moments:
- Calm Harm: Distraction techniques for when things get really tough.
- Stay Alive: Suicide prevention support.
For sleep:
- Insight Timer: Free meditation (and I mean actually free, not "7-day trial" nonsense).
- Rain Rain: White noise to help you drift off after those late shifts.
Business Tools That Save Time
Review Management:
- booteek: Yep, that's us. We read your reviews so you don't have to. (Shameless, but true).
- Google Alerts: Free notifications whenever your business is mentioned online.
Scheduling:
- 7shifts: Makes staff scheduling less of a headache.
- Homebase: They've got a free version if you're a small team.
Social Media:
- Buffer: Schedule posts across all your platforms (they have a free tier).
- Canva: Create decent-looking graphics, even if you're not a designer.
Google Business Profile:
- Update your profile directly (it's free).
- booteek.ai/gbp-score: Get a free check on how complete your profile is.
Financial Support Options
If you're struggling with cash flow:
- Start Up Loans: You could get up to £25,000 if you're eligible.
- Bounce Back Loan replacement schemes: Check gov.uk for the latest.
- Hospitality Action grants: For people facing a financial crisis.
- Local council support: Loads of councils have schemes specifically for hospitality.
The Time Audit
The average owner spends this much every week:
- 3 hours on keeping an eye on reviews
- 2 hours on social media
- 2 hours updating their Google profile
- 1 hour watching what the competition is up to
That's 8 hours spent on stuff you could automate or make easier.
What would you do with an extra 8 hours a week?
- Actually rest?
- Spend time with your family?
- Work on the business instead of in it?
- Get some sleep, for once?
Reflection Point
What's the one thing that's draining your time or energy that could be easier?
I'm not talking about the thing you think you're "supposed" to find hard. I mean the thing that makes you think, "Why is this so damn difficult?"
Chances are, there's a tool, a service, or someone you could pay to take it off your plate.
Your Action Today
Pick one thing from this list and do it:
- [ ] Save Hospitality Action's number in your phone: 0808 802 0282
- [ ] Download a mental health app
- [ ] Check how complete your Google Business Profile is
- [ ] Set up Google Alerts for your business name
- [ ] Block out 30 minutes to research a time-saving tool
You don't have to do everything at once. But doing one thing is better than doing nothing at all.
Tomorrow: The Final Day
Tomorrow, we're wrapping up this series with "February is Coming" – because January can't last forever, even when it feels like it will.
Join the conversation: What tool or resource has made the biggest difference to you? Reply on X or LinkedIn.
About booteek: We help restaurant and bar owners protect their peace of mind by handling the review responses, Google profile updates, and daily competitive intelligence. Learn more
Tags: #hospitality #resources #mentalhealth #january2026 #restauranttools #productivity
Quotes Used: Q-2025-12-011, Q-2025-12-012, Q-2025-12-008