Cathy Liska As an entrepreneur, you’re working hard to grow your business and make sure everything is running smoothly. Finding a balance between work and rest can go a long way to ensuring you don’t end up burning out or feeling completely stressed all the time. Taking time for some self-care is both good for you and is good for your business too. We’ll explore just a few ways to incorporate self-care into your life.
Practice Saying No
There’s an old saying, if you want something done, give it to a busy person. Busy people are busy because they’re out there getting stuff done. Does that sound like anyone you know?
Undoubtedly, you get asked to do a lot of things that don’t have anything to do with your business or for you personally. You do those things because you’re trying to be helpful or because you think if you don’t, you’ll be letting the other person down or because you plain feel bad saying no. It’s likely a combination of all three. Here’s a point to remember, you cannot be all things to all people and still stay healthy and productive yourself. This doesn’t mean being selfish. At those times when you’re really stretched thin, it’s ok to say no. And almost 100% of the time, that person asking for your help will manage without you.
Channel Your Energy
Self-care doesn’t have to mean a day at the spa or swinging in the hammock all afternoon, though those are two great ways to unwind and detach from work. If you’re someone who gets antsy sitting and doing nothing, then focus all that energy on helping others. Volunteer for a cause that means a lot to you. Whether it’s helping write campaign speeches for that friend running for city council or organizing a tree planting event in your community, putting your energy into something outside of your work and business can feel good and very satisfying.
Go in Late
Let your staff and clients know what morning each week you’ll be unavailable, and spend that time having breakfast in bed, reading that book you’re too tired at night for, or just taking a stroll around the block or in your favorite park. Put it on your schedule as you’d normally do for any meeting. Forget your email, let your calls go to voicemail, and turn off the news. In fact, unplug everything. Those few hours once a week can be the perfect time to recharge your batteries.
Take Advantage of Tech
Technology is sometimes and unfairly cited as the cause of much of our stress. In fact, in many ways, technology has made our lives a lot easier to manage. For instance, there are apps that can help you relax by guiding you into a meditative and peaceful state from anywhere. Wearable devices can monitor your health for you, like your heart rate, mental health, and the quality of your sleep. Learning how to edit a PDF is easy, and it can save you the time and trouble of sending out multiple emails by combining all the information into one easily shareable and editable file. Make tech your friend, you’ll be surprised how great a relationship it can be.
Pay It Forward
If you see a fellow employee, friend, or family member who you notice may be reaching burnout, share some of what you’ve learned to help them, too. Ask them what self-care looks like for them, and be open to their definition of the term, even when it differs from your own. Then check in once in a while and see if they might benefit from a nudge from you in helping them to remember the self-care goals, they set for themselves.
Self-care is a vital part of our mental health and well-being. It’s not just about taking a break from work. It is also about making time for us, channeling our energy into things that rejuvenate us, and then sharing what we’ve learned with others. If we remember to support ourselves the way we do others we care about, we’ve got the whole concept of self-care in our own hands.
When you’re looking for the best coaching certification classes, visit the Center for Certification Coaching. Attend a free webinar to get all your questions answered.
