If you are a Solopreneur, you ARE the business, so that #1 priority has to be YOU!
Your business can be operating like a well-oiled machine, but if you’re not taking care of yourself, you’re going to be stressed out and it will affect your work, relationships and overall mood. It’s ironic that when things are going really well, we typically end up spending MORE hours on our jobs because we see all the fantastic benefits of hard work.
To be a successful entrepreneur, you need to also be a healthy, well-rounded, business owner and that means taking care of YOU.
Here are a handful of tips to make sure your business isn’t taking over your life at the expense of your health and well-being:
Take a Regular Vacation or Break
Unplug. Get away. Grab your family or some friends or even yourself and step back from everything work related and get a break. Our brains need the time away to recharge. And the benefits of breaking away and focusing on non- business related tasks – daily walks, hiking, camping (or in my case a well-equipped cottage or cabin), family fun at a water park or the beach, will come back and help your business because you return to the desk refreshed and full of new ideas, thoughts and plans. Whatever your break – make it happen. No one can run full tilt all the time without some rest and relaxation. Be sure to get in regular daily breaks as well as vacation type breaks.
Sometimes unplugging can be doing a mastermind time away to work on your business. It is not necessarily unplugged time but rejuvenating time. Whenever I have done this it has boosted me as much as a vacation.
Get a Hobby
You will probably laugh at this…thinking you don’t have time for a hobby. But the truth is you don’t have time NOT to have a hobby! Whether it’s knitting, cycling, scrapbooking, cooking, etc., you need something that provides balance to your life – especially when the vacation is a few months away. There will be days when the business side of things isn’t going so well and you will need an escape. Get a hobby before you’re forced to find one.
Get Physical
You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again – regular exercise reduces anxiety, combats obesity, and makes you a nicer person to be around. If you are sitting on your butt in front of the computer most of the day (like me!), you have to find some way to move your body on a regular basis. It can be as simple as a 20-minute walk first thing in the morning, or as intense as a 2-hour gym workout. Just choose something and do it. I also add in a quick break every hour to get off the chair and move, whether it be up and playing with the dog for a couple minutes or grabbing a coffee.
Get some Rest
I’m willing to bet that at least once in the past month, you’ve found yourself up way too late, finishing one last work project, answering one more email, or putting the finishing touches on one last product. I know I have! On an occasional basis, these nocturnal escapades are no big deal. But night after night after night, and you’re frying yourself. Not only does sleep deprivation make you anxious, edgy and unable think clearly, it also makes it harder for you to work at peak efficiency. Set a bedtime, and stick to it. I have my Fitbit tracking my sleep and I am aiming for 7 hours a night. The experts say that is ideal for most people. Sleep actually helps you work. So as our moms used to say: GO TO BED!!!
Connect
Connecting with those around you is critical to minimizing your stress. At the end of your life, you’re going to be worried more about the people you love and less about the business you created. Show your family and friends how important they are to you NOW by giving them their rightful share of your time. The bonus? It will calm your anxiety when you know you’re investing time where it’s going to matter most throughout your lifetime. The payoff? Your family and friends will know how much you value them.
Always remember you need to be your first priority in business and it may mean some steps away from business in order to be at your best!
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Stop Struggling and Start Thriving! My passion is helping to guide people just like you, private practice and service-based business owners, who are often frustrated with all their wasted time spent on marketing that gets you nowhere. You can learn strategies to attract a steady flow of clients and build a thriving and profitable practice. Get started with some of the free resources on my Pepper It Marketing website, especially this Guide to Streamline your Marketing. I also offer several self-study training programs to help you attract more clients so you can Build a rewarding and profitable private practice and still have time to LIVE your LIFE!