For business owners and entrepreneurs, self-care is often at the bottom of the to-do list. And doubtless, if the bottom is ever reached, that particular note is summarily ignored in favor of the next task list.
It’s understandable. You’re a busy person and you just want to go-go-go, there’s no time for a warm bath, a weekend away, or reading.
However, continuing to do so will lead to burnout to your door before long, and it will not be kind. Self-care is as important as your business because, without you, there is no business. Here’s a brief overview of things to think about to help improve your self-care.
1. ‘Me Time’
When you overwork and hyperfocus on a project, it feels like your skin is sparking with the need to get things done. Our society is heavily focused on “the hustle,” on worth being measured by productivity, and it’s a toxic mentality. Taking a few minutes, hours, or a weekend to realign and get comfortable again is absolutely necessary. It’s not a waste. Checking in with yourself, your loved ones, hobbies, and other ways to unwind are how we as humans rejuvenate for a new day.
2. Mental Health
Making time to check in with yourself is vital in the business world. Entrepreneurs and their families are susceptible to mental health issues due to the nature of their work. Leaving them unattended and untreated can lead to severe consequences for both you and your business.
It is not a weakness to ask for help, take breaks, or step back from certain things to look after yourself. In the long run, it’s smarter and more efficient to work yourself out early on than risk a huge breakdown later.
3. Sleep
This is a big one for entrepreneurs and business owners. The long work hours and short time dedicated to sleep is, unfortunately, a part of the culture. Sleeping three or four hours a night is something to boast about. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” is doubtless something you’ve heard from fellow entrepreneurs.
But this isn’t sustainable. No one’s body can keep up with such intense demand, and you’ll end up falling ill or worse. Try sleeping longer and longer each night until you reach that magic eight hours.
4. Eating habits
Once again, efficiency often trumps self-care in regards to food. Viewed as simple fuel for the body, it’s nowhere near a priority for the busy entrepreneur. The faster you can get that energy in you, the sooner you can get back to work and do what matters.
But food has a direct impact on productivity. Different types of food have been proven to influence people’s efficiency in different ways. Unsurprisingly, the healthier the better. Fruits, vegetables, and well-prepared meals help make our brains more productive, while high-fat meals slow us down. Putting some thought into your meals will only make working that much easier.
5. Saying ‘no’
Being busy is important to owners and entrepreneurs, and you’ll want to fill every spare second of the day. Someone will want to pick your brain, or have you at their meeting, or discuss a partnership, and you’re likely to say yes because you want to do it all.
But saying ‘no’ is better for both you and your business. Running yourself ragged does no one any good, because while you’re out fulfilling requests, you could be reaching your business goals. They’re the best thing for you to focus on. Warren Buffet’s opinion on the matter is something to consider next time you’re asked to do something:
“The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say no to almost everything.”
Make sure you reject people kindly, however. Perhaps suggest another person they can talk to!
6. Exercise
Doing outside, enjoying some fresh air and Vitamin D is one of the best ways to refresh your mind and body. Lots of people decide they don’t have the time to go to the gym, or for a walk, and if they do then the only thing on their mind is all the work that’s waiting for them. Sound familiar?
Consider this though: exercise improves your mind and mood. It releases endorphins that make you happy, and a happy brain is a productive brain. Maintaining your health and fitness is a key way to keep your mind and body sharp.
7. Disconnect
Being available to your business and coworkers 24/7 is common for entrepreneurs. You want to know what’s going on, when it’s going on, and how you need to handle it. Emails, phone calls, text messages, and office group chats are always going off.
Dedicating your outside-work time to reading and replying to these, however, is not good for you. You can easily start to suffer from email fatigue or anxiety, which are detrimental to your health and company. Remote workers and Virtual Assistants, especially, have to maintain a strict divide between their work and their regular life screen time.
Disconnecting when you’re not at work is vital to stave off burnout and email fatigue. Don’t check your emails or that company text chain (unless there are some good memes in there). Let your brain take a break from the digital bombardment.
During our self-care article series, we will explore and explain these topics in more detail. For now, take a moment to plan how you’ll incorporate more self-care into your everyday life.
