Ah, self-care. It’s what we all talk about but whether it’s something we actually commit to is a totally different story. You see, as business owners, there’s always something else to do first – especially if you work from home. Putting a wash on, prepping meals, doing a full house clean whilst you’re there…
And then of course you actually have to work – both on client work and on the business itself. By the time you’ve finished nurturing everything and everyone else, there’s no hours left in the day to actually nurture yourself. It’s simply time to collapse on the sofa or take yourself off to bed ready to do it all over again the next day and the next.
One of the biggest problems? We don’t realise we’re overcomplicating it for ourselves. Self-care doesn’t always have to be about carving out a massive chunk of time to have a spa day, shut out the world, and sip on cocktails all afternoon (although this sounds pretty good too). It gets to be simple.
So if you’re a self-professed ‘busy’ entrepreneur, here’s our simple self-care ideas to help avoid burnout and actually enjoy the life you’ve carved for yourself:
- Learn to say no.
Sounds easy enough but when you’re running your own business and trying to impress your clients (eh hem, people pleasing), it’s tempting to constantly say ‘yes’ to projects that drain the life out of you or that you simply don’t have time for if you want to maintain that all-important work-life balance. Start saying ‘no’ and you’ll find you’re able to say ‘yes’ to the things that light you up and create more space in your diary.
- Set clear business boundaries.
Setting clear boundaries with your clients and those that work with you is essential if you don’t want to be rushed off your feet 24/7 and responding to messages in the early hours of the morning. We’re talking about communicating your office hours, turnaround times, and how to get in contact, plus task delegation. You can check out our article here for more ideas.
- Create a calming workspace.
Aside from your bed, your workspace is the place where you spend the majority of your time, so it’s important to make it a good one. Ask yourself if the space makes you happy? Does it inspire you to work? Is there enough light and ventilation? Are you able to separate the space from your living space? Sometimes just adding a splash of colour, a candle, or a house plant can make a world of difference to how a space makes you feel.
- Go for a walk.
We know, especially in the winter months, all you want to do is stay snuggled inside with the curtains closed and the heated blanket on. And whilst this is excellent self-care a lot of the time, if you aren’t moving away from your desk and breathing in fresh air, it’s likely to have a negative effect on your mental health – and productivity. Get out your hat and gloves, wrap up warm, wear sensible footwear, and breathe in that crisp, fresh air and get inspired by your surroundings. You never know what or who you might see.
- Celebrate the small wins.
When was the last time you truly celebrated the little things in your business? What about when you landed a new client? Completed a client project? Received a glowing testimonial? Got your tax-return in on-time? (Okay, that’s a big win!) When you’re in the thick of it, it’s easy to bypass all of these things and constantly be striving for ‘the next big thing’, but if we don’t stop to celebrate how far we’ve come and all the steps that lead to ‘the big things’, we fail to truly acknowledge our success.
Listen, neglecting self-care and letting it fall to the bottom of the to-do list is common for us business owners, but if you can manage to do these five things, you’re well on your way to creating a healthy relationship with yourself and your business.
Ready to implement some ultimate self-care by hiring a VA to take away all those pesky tasks that fill you with dread? Contact us today to see how we can help!
