As a small business owner, you likely know a lot about stress, burning the candle at both ends, and trying to keep your business, and life, on track. Since your business can’t run as efficiently without you there, it’s crucial to make sure you’re getting some time to recharge.
Your everyday habits have the biggest impact on well-being, so you need to make self care a priority!
Sleep
Staying up late working may help you get things done today, but it will not help your productivity tomorrow. Make sure you’re shutting off from work for seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Turn off all electronics 1 hour before bed to avoid disrupting your sleep with blue light. Keep in mind that it’ not just quantity of sleep that matters, but quality, too. If you don’t wake up feeling refreshed, it’s a sign you’re not getting a quality sleep.
Diet
You are what you eat! If you eat garbage you will feel like garbage. What you put into your body doesn’t just effect your shape, it will effect your thinking and productivity. Plan meals in advance so you don’t turn to unhealthy options when you’re hungry and pressed for time.
Exercise
As a small business owner, we know it can be hard to fit in a workout on top of everything else you’re doing. But just spending a few minutes in movement, can release endorphins and make you feel better and less stressed.
Time Management
Do you ever have days where you feel like you didn’t get anything done, despite being busy all day? Those days are inevitable every once in a while, but if they’re a regular occurrence, it’s worth taking a closer look at your time management habits. Are you planning your days and following a schedule, or are you putting out fires as they happen? By blocking out the day’s tasks into designated time slots, prioritizing tasks based on urgency, and focusing on one thing at a time instead of multitasking, you can better manage your time to get more done. If you have employees and can delegate some of your tasks, you definitely should be. You cannot do it all yourself, so stop trying.
Stress Management
Make sure you’re taking time to unplug and engage in activities you enjoy. Make time for relationships and hobbies. Go for walk, enjoy a cup of coffee in peace, or spend a few minutes meditating or reading.
Environment
The setting in which you work has a big impact. Keep your office clutter and distraction free Make the office feel like home with plants and a comfortable spot to relax. It’s so easy to ignore your working environment – taking care of your space can benefit your wellbeing.
When you’re feeling the pressure of small business ownership, it’s tempting to power through and spend every free moment working. But the truth is, the work will always be there – but if you don?t take care of yourself, you might not be. While it’s never easy to slow down and take time for self care, it’s the key to making it work as a small business owner.
Stay organized
Keeping things organized is a major act of self-care. How often do you get flustered when you can’t find what you want, especially when you need it now? By sticking to an organization system, you’ll be ready whenever you need something.
Give yourself a break
In life, we tend to be our own worst critic, which is stressful. We tend to say such negative things to ourselves, put extra stress and pressure on our shoulders when it’s not necessary. Realize that you don’t have to be the best, and if you have a bad day, you aren’t a bad person or bad business owner. Be good to yourself!
Taking care of yourself is necessary to thrive as a small business owner, so don’t feel bad about taking a few minutes to focus on your needs.