Self-Care for entrepreneurs is so important! Running and operating your own business can make it hard to draw a line between work and your personal life. It makes sense, you have a passion for what you do and are constantly making sacrifices to see it succeed. You have to pay attention to what responsibilities you could be pushing off to the side because your business is your life, you eat, sleep and breathe it. As entrepreneurs, self-care is a VERY important part of running a business.
Why is self-care so important? For two reasons, the first being it is one of our New Year resolutions for business owners! The second being that as an entrepreneur burn-out is a real big scary thing that you have to avoid! You need to remember to invest time into your family, friends and yes, even just yourself!
If you’re a busy entrepreneur or even someone who just has a hard time turning off work mode and taking time for yourself, this post is for you! Here are some simple yet effective ways to take a step back and practice self-care.
Set SMART Goals
For example, maybe your goal for the year was to grow your Instagram following by 30%. Instead of turning your focus to something else 6 months in, remember what you committed to and the time frame you gave yourself. Once this goal is completed, you can move to the next without feeling overwhelmed!
The key here is to set SMART goals–ones that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. When you set SMART goals and give them your full focus, you’re unstoppable! Plus, setting yourself up for success will lead to a happier, more fulfilled life.
Take Time for Yourself
Many entrepreneurs feel guilty when they take time to rest. It’s easy to slip into the mindset that if you take some time for yourself, you’re abandoning your business. You might find yourself thinking things like, “Why didn’t I get up earlier so I could get more done?” or “I’ll skip the gym today so I can catch up on emails.”
While it’s good to be motivated, it can be dangerous when you feel guilty taking time for yourself. Your health is more important than your business (yes, we said it), and while sacrificing it might temporarily lead to success, it will lead to burnout and disappointment in the long run. When you take care of yourself first, the time you dedicate to your business is so much more productive and inspiring!
Establish a Healthy Routine
As an entrepreneur, it’s so important to have a healthy routine that works for you. Without it, you’ll never be able to establish a balance in your life. Yes, all-nighters will come and are sometimes worth it, but learn to find the balance between being committed and being a workaholic.
When forming a routine, think about the things bring you joy. Is it going for a run? Walking your dog? Doing fun DIYs? Spending some time outside to get some vitamin D? Try to incorporate at least one of these things into your daily routine. Not only will it give you a break from your work, but it will give you something to look forward to.
Learn to Say No
This is probably one of the most challenging concepts for business owners to learn–saying no! As an entrepreneur, you will be asked to come to meetings, hop on a quick phone call, help out with something, and give your input constantly. Oh, and it will also seem like your email inbox is never empty!
If you don’t put your foot down and say no to some of these things, you’ll never be able to work toward your overall goals. While keeping up with day-to-day tasks is necessary, your leadership and vision for the company are needed in other areas. So, be selective and get better at saying no. You’ll thank yourself later–trust us!
If you’re worried about hurting someone’s feelings, try to not look at it as though you’re saying no. Rather, you’re offering an alternative solution! For example, maybe your company has been asked to sponsor a big event that you just can’t take on right now. When kindly declining the offer, provide the person with another business they may be able to reach out to. This will help you to keep a positive reputation in your community while also putting your business first.
Build a Support Network…And Stay Connected!
Being a solo entrepreneur can be lonely, especially if you work from home. Doing your own thing definitely has its perks, but with it can also bring big challenges. So, it’s important to build a strong support system and be part of a community!
If you find yourself feeling sick of your home office, try switching it up and working from your local coffee shop or even at a co-working space. Co-working spaces are great because you can get a lot done and have the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals!
It’s also important to maintain your friendships and the relationship you have with your family. While it might require planning in advance, always leave room in your schedule to grab coffee with a friend or hop on a phone call with a family member. Nobody knows you better than them, and they can listen, offer advice when needed, and support you through good and bad times!
Learn to Let Go
Last but not least, great business owners know how to delegate when necessary. As your business grows, you won’t be able to do it all yourself. You will need to build a team that can help you to work toward achieving your overall goals!
While putting your biz in someone else’s hands can be scary, if you hire the right people, you can rest at ease. In fact, adding individuals to your team can bring new ideas to the table, increase efficiency, and allow you to grow as a leader.
If you have a great team, you can trust that things will go on even when you need to step away and take care of yourself. When you return, you’ll feel re-energized and ready to lead your company to success!
Recent Comments