Bring Your A-Game Every Day: 10 Self Care Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs

As an entrepreneur, you’re constantly behind a computer screen, on a smartphone screen, or interacting with fellow business people in meeting after meeting. Like the Energizer Bunny, you keep going, and going, and going.

But you’re no robot.

So, the question is, why are you treating your body like you are?

Don’t worry — you’re not the only entrepreneur dealing with this. Research shows that Americans as a whole in the 21st century are working much longer hours than they did in the 1990s — longer than anybody else in today’s industrialized world.

Although building your own business is certainly something to be proud of, make sure that you don’t neglect yourself in the process. Here’s a rundown on 10 self care tips for surviving and thriving as an entrepreneur in the 21st century.

Let’s get started!

1. Watching Your Diet

A wide range of resources today tell you what to eat and how to eat it. The truth is, though, that the process of dieting doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming.

Since your main priority is the company you’re trying to build, take steps to minimize the effort and time required to eat nutritious meals.

For instance, you may want to cook in bulk, decide on a handful of regular meals, and decide on certain meal times. You might also want to begin shopping online or even using a service that will deliver your meal ingredients to you.

This will all save you time and reduce the urge to eat unhealthy fast food during your busy week.

2. Go to Sleep

You might not feel like you have enough hours in the day to get your business tasks done. But that doesn’t mean you should regularly burn the midnight oil in an effort to keep up.

The reality is that you need at least seven hours of sleep per night to function at your optimum level.

A great way to improve your sleep situation is to stick with a certain bedtime so that you’re consistently getting enough sleep. Also, purchase a memory foam mattress, which can help you to enjoy better sleep by better supporting your body. Layla sleep mattress has recently been featured in Forbes, Inc., and People Magazine for their studies on the importance of daily sleeping habits, productivity, and why sleeping on the right mattress can make all of the difference in well-rested sleep.

3. Work Out

This is another smart habit to build each day. That’s because working out isn’t just good for keeping your weight under control; it’s also great for improving your mental and emotional wellbeing, too.

Look for an activity you don’t mind doing, whether it’s biking or walking around the neighborhood. And try to do it every day. For many individuals, it’s actually easier to engage in physical activity each day versus only a few days a week.

4. Take Advantage of Services

A number of services are available today to give busy entrepreneurs like you a helping hand. So, why not take advantage of them?

For instance, hire a cleaner to clean your house once per week. Or allow a bookkeeper to get your financial situation in order. If you’re sick of updating your profiles on social media each day, you can also hire a virtual assistant to do this for you.

Although you may be serious about saving money when possible, it may be smart to invest in services that will free up time for you to focus on growing your business.

5. Rest for a Day

This can understandably be hard to do, but it is critical nonetheless. Everyone needs rest.

If you’re working every day of the week, you’ll find it tough to experience relief from the pressure and stress associated with operating your business.

Unplugging from your business-related stress at least one day a week is paramount for your wellbeing. During your day “off,” you can spend time in nature by yourself or go on an outing with family — whatever tickles your fancy.

6. Separate Your Work and Personal Lives

The challenge with being an entrepreneur is that it can be difficult to leave your work at work, as you are the one controlling your business’s direction. This is doubly hard if your office is at home.

However, you need to establish boundaries so that you keep your business life from bleeding into your personal life. This might mean not taking business calls after a certain time each day, or it could mean leaving your computer and phone in your office while you’re spending time with your family in the living room.

7. Establish Your Priorities

Did you know that as important as your business is, your health is even more important?

Think about it: even if you create a flourishing company, your quality of life will be terrible if you’re suffering from health issues and anxiety as a result of growing your business. Remember, money alone isn’t enough to make you happy.

So, approach entrepreneurship in a balanced way. Make sure that you put your family first, and also, recognize when you’ve got to unplug so that you can recharge. This will help you to feel healthier and more energized, which is what you need to thrive as a business owner.

8. Turn That Smartphone Off for an Entire Day

No, we’re not joking.

This might seem like an impossible feat for you in 2019, but it can be done if you put your mind to it.

By becoming unreachable for a day, you can restore your physical, mental and emotional health. And don’t worry — the rest of the world can make it without you for one day.

9. Breathe

Yes, everyone breathes, but not everyone breathes in the same way.

For instance, shallow breathing can contribute to anxiety. Meanwhile, full breaths from your abdomen will help your blood pressure to stabilize and will slow down your heart.

Guided exercises, like yoga, can help you to remember to take in breaths deeply until this becomes natural for you.

10. Treat Your Wellbeing As a Key Performance Indicator

When you’re managing your business, you track things like awareness measurements, sales and costs. But you should also keep track of how you’re doing physically and emotionally, too.

So, regularly assess how you’re feeling physically — for example, are you feeling sluggish due to a lack of sleep. Also, you might want to keep a journal to track how you’re faring mentally and emotionally.

Take Care of Your Body and Mind — then Your Business

As mentioned throughout this article and resource guide, it might not seem like you need to take care of your body and mind at all times — but this will eventually come back and hurt you in one way or another.

Your business is important, but YOU are more important.

Take the time to not only take care of yourself, but also to appreciate everything you have.

Way too many of us don’t take advantage of what we have right now, until it’s too late!