Self Care - Happy Valentines Day
Happy Valentine’s day ladies! Consider that today is a day dedicated to love it seemed only fitting to focus on that especially because as a business owner it can be difficult to make time for yourself. Here are 5 ways to focus on self-care, today or any day.
1. Schedule a day off every week: It seems so simple and yet as many business owners know, taking even one day off a week often doesn't feel like an option. It's entirely necessary though. Rather than waiting until you feel burned out or for some planned extended vacation, make the room in your schedule to take at least one day off every week, even if it isn't the same day every week. And make sure that the day off is really a day off, go to a movie, get a massage, or even just sleep in, but you have to spend at least 50% of the time you're awake not dealing with work.
2. Get informed: Taking a business class or spending time at the library or online looking up information about different aspects of your industry probably isn't your idea of self-care, but it does factor in. By taking the time to learn what you need about how to make your business operate smoothly before a crisis arises or you're about to engage in a launch, you'll actually minimize your overall stress levels. Learning how to do things properly, finding alternatives that work for you, and most importantly understanding the norms of the field you're in are all short-term time commitments that will decrease your long-term frustration.
3. Prioritize your health: We live in a culture that seems to celebrate going non-stop 24/7. Many of us wake up and immediately check our emails or phones and we brag about the late nights and early mornings or how the bags under our eyes are designer. None of this is healthy behavior though because a key part of self-care is balance. Make the time to truly rest at night, sit down and eat actual meals, and of course, stay hydrated and stay active in a way that makes sense for you.
4. Give yourself a gold star: No one wants to make money just so they can spend it all on bills. Yes, things like rent and insurance are necessities but they're certainly not the only reasons that you're working. Make sure that you spend at least a little of your hard-earned money on yourself.
5. Water your own lawn: Sometimes we can't help but think that the grass is greener on the other side, that someone else is doing the same thing we're doing but things seem to be going so much better for them. So what if they are? While a large part of the business is about competing for resources and customers, you can't get so caught up with what someone else is or isn't doing that you forget to focus on yourself. Remember that not everyone enters the business world in the same way and that you only know what someone else is presenting to the world and not necessarily what's actually going on.
Hopefully, these tips will inspire you to show yourself a little extra love today and always.