As a business owner, you might feel like you’re always on the clock. But even entrepreneurs need to prioritize self-care. After all, spending every minute working will leave you burned out with little energy to come up with creative new business ideas. This is why it’s so important to slow down. Today, Leadership Editors shares a few simple ways to include self-care in your routines.
Find Ways to Save Time
When you look at your to-do list, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to take care of all of these tasks by yourself. Delegation is the key to creating more space in your schedule! If you haven’t already, it’s time to start planning for hiring and onboarding your first employees. You can also look for contractors to assist with tasks like content creation, social media management, and even answering emails.
It never hurts to track your time and make sure you’re not wasting hours on distractions. By using a time-tracking app, you can figure out exactly how you’re spending your time and adjust your schedule as necessary.
Exercise at Home
It can be hard to make time to hit the gym, especially if you don’t live especially close to one. But exercising at home is always an option! To make the most of your home workouts, Polar recommends varying your routines with different exercises, following along with workout videos, getting helpful equipment like resistance bands or kettlebells, and tracking your progress to stay motivated.
Before purchasing any home exercise equipment, be sure to read home product reviews. You can see what others have to say about machines you’re interested in, like recumbent stationary bikes. Becoming familiar with the choices available will help you make a better decision about what’s right for you.
Set Scheduling Boundaries
Maybe you generally head to your desk with a cup of coffee right after waking up, and you find yourself sitting at your computer until midnight. If this scenario plays out frequently in your day-to-day life, it’s time to set some realistic scheduling boundaries. You could block off an hour of “me time” each morning and choose to log off every evening by dinnertime. This will help you get more sleep and feel truly refreshed when you get out of bed each day!
Relaxation Techniques
Especially when you’re used to working hard, making time for relaxation is critical. Perhaps you’ve tried meditating or yoga before and worried that you just weren’t “good” at it. But these relaxation techniques can be very powerful, and there’s no such thing as being “bad” at meditation or yoga! DoYou points out that you don’t even need to take a yoga class to begin this practice — instead, you can start with gentle poses at home. Just be sure that you address any potential sources of negative energy, such as clutter, that can make you feel anxious. Taking simple steps like decluttering and even adding a few houseplants can free up your living space and create a positive environment for you to relax.
You can also tack on a few minutes of meditation to the end of your yoga sessions, too. To get the hang of it, Ten Percent suggests bringing your attention back to your breath every time you feel your thoughts wandering.
Consider Therapy
It is not uncommon for individuals to struggle with trying to relax, instead feeling like they are ‘always on’. This is one of many issues that can be explored with the aid of a therapist. Working with a professional can be especially helpful if stress is severely affecting your mental health. If in-office appointments are difficult for you to schedule, you can always look to online therapy. Many people who wonder ‘how much is online therapy?’ are often surprised to find that sessions can be affordable for the insured and uninsured alike. And participating in therapy online means that sessions can be conducted from the comfort and privacy of home.
When you’re so busy running your business, you might feel like you can’t take time away for self-care. But your business can continue growing even when you’re not working 24/7. With these tips, you’ll find it easier to make self-care an ongoing commitment!
