It’s been a tough 18 months – especially for SMEs and entrepreneurs. Now more than ever it’s important we look after ourselves. Stephanie Haywood from My Life Boost joins the blog as a guest contributor and shares her top tips for taking better care of yourself!
Being an entrepreneur is often associated with late nights and working weekends. While the hard work and hustle may pay off, there can be a cost, especially if you don’t take care of yourself along the way. It is possible to look after your wellbeing while still working hard. In some cases, you can’t afford not to care for yourself.
Why Self-Care Is So Important as an Entrepreneur
A lot of entrepreneurs are highly committed to the hustle culture. This can be a good thing that can motivate you to reach for the stars. However, it can also be harmful, especially if you are overexerting yourself.
Failing to take proper care of your mind and body can make you sick, potentially seriously ill in some cases. However, even in less serious cases, it can be self-defeating. Working so hard that you end up laid up with a cold or completely burnt out means that you are less productive overall.
Furthermore, failing to invest time and energy into your personal relationships can be isolating. This can harm your overall happiness and potentially be hazardous to your mental health. Plus, if you’re an employer, your self-care can also affect others — an overly stressed manager who never takes time off can be hard to handle.
Working hard and achieving your goals may be important to you, and that is an admirable quality. However, you need to balance that with self-care. Sometimes, even simple habit changes can make a huge difference to your mental and physical wellness.
4 Ways You Can Take Better Care of Yourself
Practicing self-care is important, but sometimes doing so is easier said than done. The following four suggestions can help you to take better care of yourself:
- Establish Healthy Habits: It is probably no surprise that healthy living is good for you, both mentally and physically. According to research, exercise (at home or at a gym) is beneficial for your mental wellbeing. The same is true for a good diet and plentiful rest. Take care of yourself physically to keep up your emotional strength.
- Implement Good Relaxation Techniques: Learning how to relax and reduce stress is essential for your overall wellbeing. This is especially true in the age of COVID. Dealing with “COVID fatigue” has a lot of professionals on edge. Try practicing meditation or yoga or just going for a walk to relax. Working remotely from a more relaxing location is a good option too.
- Find the Work/Life Balance That Works for You: Establishing a reasonable work/life balance can be a challenging proposition as an entrepreneur, but it is one worth investing in. Being a business owner can consume your entire life, but it doesn’t have to. Be careful to develop work/life integration or set boundaries for family time as needed. Nearly everyone needs some vacation time every now and then.
- Increase Your Efficiency: Sometimes the best way to take care of yourself is to become more efficient with your work. Efficiency gives you more chances to get up from your desk and spend more time taking care of yourself. A few productivity tips may help you to get more done. Outsourcing some of your work by hiring services can also help you achieve both success and wellness.
Learn More About Self-Care
As an entrepreneur, stress and overworking are common risks. Practicing good self-care habits is perhaps even more important for business owners and anyone who manages employees. Use the above tips from Stephanie and explore our services to invest in your wellness this year.