How to Practice Self-Care as an Enterpreneur

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 Learning how to take care of our mental health is paramount. It is the foundation from which so much of our lives follow. However, many entrepreneurs lose sight of this in their pursuit of other goals. Here are five easily adoptable tips for you to incorporate into your repertoire.

Operate Remotely

While many are facing pressure to return to the office, there are multiple benefits to operating remotely at least one day a week. It is easier for some to focus on their vision outside of an office environment that can be distracting. 

Setting up a more streamlined system for your payroll, calculating costs of labor or implementing online time card calculators can free up time for you to focus on other aspects of your business. Operating businesses remotely presents challenges and opportunities for all involved. Implementing good online tools for yourself and for your team can help to ease the transitions.

Spend Quality Time With Yourself

All of us can benefit from spending time alone each day. Deep breathing, stretching, meditation and exercise can help reset your brain and keep you centered.

The way you start your day is important. Rather than diving into your emails upon waking first thing in the morning, consider going for a walk, having a nutritious breakfast, or doing a short meditation. When I wake up, I take a brief moment to practice gratitude for having another day to try to bring light to the world. If the pandemic taught us nothing else, I hope most people gained an appreciation of the tenuousness of life and how each day can be a gift. Framing your thoughts in a positive way and doing what you can to remain calm and serene can impact your mental, emotional and physical health, as well as the people with whom you come in contact.  

Socialize Outside of Work

Some business owners fall into the trap of blending their work lives with their social lives. But boundaries are important to maintaining balance in one’s life.

Make time to socialize with a friend or someone who has nothing to do with your business life. Nurturing relationships with people outside of your industry can give you better perspective. Otherwise, one’s views may become myopically focused on one’s business. Give yourself a break. 

Exercise in Moderation

We all know that regular exercise is beneficial to our physical health, but many of us lack the time to go to a gym multiple times a week. Especially if you already feel that you are burning the candle at both ends with all of the obligations in your life, exercising to the point of exhaustion can be detrimental to your health in the long run. Instead, consider building movement you’re your day throughout the day.

There are many resources online for exercise, like for yoga. Bodyweight exercises also can be done, even while waiting for something, like coffee to brew. Doing a few squats while on a call can be beneficial, or reading a report while walking on a treadmill. The point is that you can move throughout your day to increase your fitness level.

Hack Your Sleep

The problem many business owners have is that they have to be reactionary to their clients’ needs. This can mean checking emails long into the night. If that is the case for you, a blue light blocker app can help minimize the deleterious effects on one’s ability to sleep.

The cumulative effect of a lack of sufficient sleep can be very damaging. Burnout is common among those who go without proper sleep for long periods of time. Most people require seven to eight hours of sleep a night to perform well. Force yourself to turn off the light early if you are someone who is an early riser. Or give yourself permission to cat nap if you find that rejuvenating.

Being an effective entrepreneur requires a healthy mind and body. It is easy to lose sight of that in pursuit of your business success. But prioritizing one’s health is critical to long-term success. Without your health, you really do not have much of anything, and you certainly will not be able to enjoy your success if your health is poor. Life is short. Take care of yourself.

Maria Olsen