“Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is to relax.”
If you run a business and roll your eyes at taking time for yourself to unwind – you aren’t alone.
Being able to relax and unwind away from work, family and life can help you become more productive. This is why it’s essential to learn to relax and make it a part of your daily routine. You can do many different things to relax and “check out,” and what works for one person may not work for another. It also doesn’t have to take hours and hours. So if you’re thinking, “I don’t have time for this,” I’m here to tell you that yes, you do!
Many business owners feel they don’t have the luxury of time to take for themselves to focus on themselves. But I want you to think about it this way – when you take care of yourself, you’re also taking care of your business and your clients! Think of it as a form of maintenance. We maintain our homes, so they don’t break down. We have to keep our mental and physical health so we don’t break down, and therefore, our business doesn’t break down.
I wanted to share a few things I feel are ways to practice self-care as a business owner. You may be surprised at the list (hint – it doesn’t include long, expensive days at the spa or sitting in a warm bubble bath waiting for the time to be up).
Take breaks:
Every hour, make it a point to get up, walk away from your computer to stretch, and grab a drink of water or some food.
Delegate:
This one may take practice for some. It can be hard to delegate and pass up some control, but it’s important to ask for help when you need it. You need to be sure that you have a manageable amount of work on your plate.
Block distractions:
The more you can focus on one thing at a time, the easier it will be to keep your stress levels down. For example, instead of jumping from task to task, or notification to notification, block out set times to check emails and messages. The more you can cut out distractions, the more productive you will be and the less stress you will feel.
Say no:
This one can be tricky. Many business owners will say yes to everything in the hope of pleasing clients and customers; however, often, when we say yes to everyone else, we are saying no to ourselves. Learn to say no to things that will cause stress and unhappiness and that don’t serve you. It’s essential to have boundaries within your business.
Express gratitude:
In the hustle and grind of running a business, it’s easy to lose sight of all the reasons we have to feel happy. We’re fortunate to be busy and to be in business. Expressing gratitude to those around you who help, your clients, and yourself is an excellent form of self-care.
Running a business is hard work. Start adding self-care to your daily routine, and you will find you are more productive and happy, and in turn, your clients will feel the same.
