Contributed Post: Self-Care Tips and Reminders for Busy Business Owners

This article was provided by Sharon Redd of Live All the Way.

Dedicating your every waking moment to maintaining the health and growth of your business might be great as far as entrepreneurship is concerned, but it’s not so great for your well-being as a person. While there are occasions that demand this kind of work and focus, it’s not sustainable for the long term. No matter how energetic you are, and how much you love running your business, you need a break. Otherwise, you’ll start to lose your drive, and the work may begin to feel more like a drag than an exciting challenge. You may even get burnt out. And this will adversely affect your business, too.

You owe it to yourself, your business, your loved ones, and your team members to give yourself a break and work on self-care. And to help, Well From Within shares the following tips.

Why does self-care seem so hard?

In theory, self-care should not be difficult. It is supposed to help you feel more refreshed and energized. It’s not supposed to be yet another thing to stress about. Yet highly motivated, successful individuals still often seem to have difficulty keeping up with even the basics of self-care. There are several reasons why this might be the case. If you‘re thinking of self-care as something time-consuming, expensive, or extravagant, you’re thinking of something that isn’t self-care.

Another reason you might be reluctant to pursue self-care is that you have had it drilled into you that you’re not allowed to put yourself first. This is inaccurate, however: you deserve care and consideration as much as anyone else does. Finally, you may simply be in denial about the fact that you need self-care because you prefer to think of yourself as an infinite reserve of energy. You don’t want to admit that you might be run down or need help.

Some easy, affordable self-care practices.

If you’re reluctant to embark on a self-care regimen because you feel there’s no time in your busy schedule, try starting small with little techniques that don’t take up much time. Some tiny rituals that can be practiced almost anywhere — at work, at home, maybe even while commuting — include short meditation practices, deep-breathing, taking time to be thankful, and brief breaks for simple exercises like a refreshing walk outside, or a few yoga stretches.

You can also apply self-care to your home environment by reorganizing closets, drawers and pantries, cleaning thoroughly and ridding yourself of anything that sparks negative feelings. Deep cleaning is a great way to give yourself a fresh start. And if you’ve never cleaned your furniture before, now is the time. Simply search Angi to find a professional furniture cleaner near you, then check the ratings and reviews to make sure you’re getting the best deal in your area.

The importance of maintaining your health.

Self-care isn’t just about taking breaks to do pleasant things. It is also a way of life in which you are mindful of your own health and make choices to sustain it. Self-care can mean choosing nutritious meals, taking time for fitness, avoiding self-sabotage, and getting routine health care check-ups. It can mean taking any prescription medications you have, on time, and regularly. It can mean getting help when you are feeling psychologically unwell, too.

Make movement and mobility a priority.

Exercise is just as important as healthy eating, getting enough sleep and seeing your doctor as needed. Exercise boosts energy, helps you sleep better, puts you in a better mood and enhances your overall wellbeing. So stop making excuses, and make daily exercise a priority. This might require you to get up earlier or take your lunch break outside of the office.

Secure your future.

Taking care of the details of life is one of the big things that no one talks about when it comes to self-care. Self-care when you own a business; however, often covers a lot more than just some relaxation. It also means doing things that secure your future, protect your family, and protect your business.

Many things fall into that bracket, including things like making sure your accounts are always up to date (or hiring an accountant), starting an automated savings pot, doing small admin tasks that you keep putting off, and getting the right insurance. Business insurance protects your business, while life insurance takes care of your family if you should ever need it. If you find yourself falling into one of the categories discussed by PHP Agency reviews in this article, it’s time to give yourself the mental space to take care of those details. You’ll feel incredible once all these tasks are in order.

Time management as self-care.

A component of self-care is making needed changes to give yourself the breaks you need, as well as to make it easier for you to keep up with daily tasks. At home, this may mean hiring outside help to assist with cleaning the house. Even a few hours of help can make an enormous difference in your stress levels. At work, this may mean delegating more responsibilities to others, though never without proportionate compensation, of course.

If you’ve been wracking your brains and losing sleep over difficult tasks, ask yourself whether it’s time to hire a professional to take over some of them. For instance, if you’re in over your head in web design, you might want to hire a freelance web developer to take over the project for you. You can find freelance professionals, with rates and reviews, on online job boards. Or as another option, Well From Within provides freelance blogging, proofreading, and social media services to small business owners.

Once you build self-care into your daily work and home routines, you will notice a difference. You will find yourself managing your time better and experiencing less stress. Ordinary tasks may feel fun rather than exhausting. You may find yourself with more energy and interest in helping others invest in their self-care, also.

Sharon Redd created Live All the Way to help others live life to the ABSOLUTE FULLEST. She believes life all the way is a life with all the toppings! It’s ordering guacamole and queso at the restaurant. It’s wearing those bright pink shoes, no matter what anyone else thinks. It’s using your formal china for every meal and hugging your friends every time you see them. It’s eating ice cream for breakfast and so much more. Her goal, each and every day, is to live all the way and her mission is to help others do the same.

Well From Within offers freelance blogging services to health and wellness businesses. For more information, please check out my blogging services and rates, or take a moment to learn how blogging can benefit your health and wellness business.