Entrepreneurs are often the worst at doing what is right for them. They may often dismiss the notion of ‘self-care’ as a concept that doesn’t really apply to them, but a failure to do so often leads to a failure to balance work, life and wellbeing.
Self-care isn’t all about suddenly taking up yoga, having Reiki sessions and lighting scented candles — and it doesn’t necessarily have to involve drastic work and lifestyle changes. There are plenty of ways to prioritise your own wellbeing, even if you are passionate about your business and trying to put in the hours to make your business a success.
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Get sufficient sleep
This is the number one priority and with good reason. Sleep helps the brain function properly and without sufficient sleep your decision-making will be impaired, your attention span will be decreased, and this will often lead to poor judgement. While you might get work done, you’ll definitely not be at your best.
Losing just a few hours of sleep can impact your ability to carry out daily tasks and leave you vulnerable to sickness. Additionally, the long-term effects of not getting enough sleep can increase your risk of chronic health problems including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and depression.
Not everyone necessarily needs the recommended eight hours of sleep every night — and your sleep requirements do tend to reduce as you get older — but by having a regular routine and keeping your mobile phone well out of reach can increase your chances of getting the rest and recovery that you need to function well.
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Eat well
When you are trying to balance running a business, and sometimes feel like there are not enough hours in the day, one of the first things to slip is your eating habits. It can be far too easy to grab an unhealthy lunch time option, or even skip lunch completely, and getting back late can repeatedly mean grabbing an unhealthy takeaway.
Try to plan and prepare meals for your working week to ensure that you get the balanced diet you need to provide you with sustained energy and greater clarity during your working week. Hydration is also key, so try and drink plenty of water throughout the day and make an effort to cut down on caffeine, especially later in the day, as this will also aid your sleep.
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Get regular exercise
Ok, you probably already feel like finding time in an already packed day for exercise is a near impossibility, but bear with us on this one. Exercise doesn’t have to involve a heavy HIIT session at 6am, and you don’t even have to set aside too much time for exercise if you are smart about how you go about it.
You could try and integrate exercise into your commute so that time you might typically be sitting in traffic, you could instead be cycling or walking into work. Think your commute is too far? Why not get off the bus or train a few stops earlier and run or walk the rest of the way?
Naturally, it is great if you can find the time for a good workout to benefit your physical well-being. A dedicated gym session, a dog walk, or even a yoga or stretching session, particularly in the evening can help you unwind. Ideally, focus on an activity that you enjoy doing and you will be more likely to do it regularly.
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Prioritise your mental well-being
Exercise does wonders for your mental health, releasing endorphins that boost mood and help reduce stress and anxiety. However, there are other ways in which you can support your own mental health and achieve mindfulness goals.
Relaxation techniques using meditation or music can help you unwind. You could even try writing down your thoughts at the end of each day to help you compartmentalise your day and ensure you go to bed without your thoughts racing. This can be an opportunity to compile your list of tasks for the following day so you effectively unclutter your mind.
Encouraging open conversations in the workplace can be beneficial to mental health for all employees, including business owners, so look to foster this sort of approach with regular check-ins and opportunities for people to feel supported and less isolated and this will aid you too. It’s a fact of life that many small business owners tend to put their own needs last, but your mental health is important too, so be sure to include time for rest and reflection into your daily routine.
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Set firm boundaries
Your time is valuable so try not to let anyone or anything encroach on that. Setting boundaries and communicating that to your teams and clients regarding what you will or won’t do in your business is important so that people know where you stand and they will be less inclined to try and impose on you. Don’t feel obliged to open and respond to every email as soon as you receive them.
Try and stick to a set workday routine and ideally don’t go beyond that, other than in absolute emergencies. You may decide that you have a dedicated lunch break between certain hours, so again try and stick to this and make your employees aware that you are absolutely not available during this time.
Think about the tasks that you want or need to be doing. Just because someone else needs to lean upon your expertise does not mean you should end up doing it for them. The key is learning to politely say ‘no’ whether that is to an employer or even a client, if you feel that task or invite is not in your best interests or those of your family.
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Take a break
Allow yourself to take a break without any feeling of guilt. It’s your business and what you do isn’t really anyone else’s business – you don’t have to be seen to be on task all day. If you need to step outside to clear your head, then go ahead. Take an extended lunch if you feel you need to or even try to have a digital detox where you don’t look at a single device for a set period of time.
There may be occasions where you need to take a break from the workplace, but may still be working from home, away from distractions. This can be an opportunity to get some clear thought and can often be a highly productive time for you.
Taking a break as a business owner also extends to your holidays. While you may have a certain reluctance to be away from your business for an extended period, you really need to commit to a proper break to fully recharge. Resist the temptation to answer calls or emails when you should be relaxing and clearing your head for when you return.
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Take time for self-reflection
As a business owner it is important that you take the time to not only celebrate your successes but also to reflect on your accomplishments (and any failures) in order to make learnings. Some self-reflection will be good for your personal and professional growth.
Through self-reflection you’ll be able to identify common factors in your successes as well as areas for improvement that you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. This might involve making changes to workflows and systems, especially if you are something of a ‘blocker’ in these processes because nearly everything has to go through you. Looking at how you can improve things will save you time and stress.
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De-clutter your workspace
A tidy space means a tidy mind. To get in the best possible mindset for work, your work environment should ideally be tidy and inspiring. Eliminate clutter and surround yourself with elements that put you in the right mindset, whether that be pictures of family or even some greenery.
Your working environment has a major bearing on your ability to focus and be motivated. Having a regular routine of tidying up at the end of your working day ensures that you return to an uncluttered workspace the following day ready to tackle what is in front of you.
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Find time for hobbies
Being a business owner can be all-consuming and it probably often feels like there isn’t much time for anything other than work there. While some people are fortunate to run a business based around their hobby, other people need to find time for a hobby outside of work.
Pursuing other activities unrelated to your business is essential to give your mind a different focus. You may even pick up new skills that you can utilise in your business role. Creative hobbies, outdoor pursuits, or puzzles and problem-solving activities can test you in different ways that your business doesn’t.
If you take the time and effort to invest in yourself, try something new, learn new skills, and take you out of your comfort zone, you’ll be setting yourself up for both personal and business growth.
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Have a solid support network
Running a business can sometimes feel like something of a lone furrow, especially if you are the one seemingly putting in all the work and making decisions. Sometimes you need someone to bounce ideas off, whether that is a trusted employee or someone externally.
Try to surround yourself with good people you can trust or connections who have experience of running a business or being in the industry you operate in. Having a good network can give you confidence that the decisions you are making are backed-up by other thinkers in your industry.
Depending on your level of experience, you may be well served by finding a mentor who can help guide you, or you could find other support for certain tasks so that the decision-making doesn’t always fall solely to you.
Self-care Conclusions
In a competitive marketplace where the pressure is often on you, especially if you are the sole decision-maker, a degree of self-care is a necessity. With some self-care steps included in your daily routines, you’ll enhance your chance of succeeding in the long-term.
Those business owners who fail to take care of themselves often face burnout and symptoms including feeling constantly drained, being unmotivated or disengaged, and feeling defeated or helpless. Their health can suffer as lower immunity potentially leads to more illness.
With self-care, business owners can not only prioritise their wellbeing but also increase their capacity to function well and lead people effectively. This can only have positives for their business and their employees.
