Running a business is hard and the non-stop challenges can take a toll on your physical and mental health. That's why creating time to unplug from the hustle and truly relax is important.
But how do you truly rest and make time for self-care and self-love with the demands of running a business?
To find answers, we hosted business owners and a mental health advocate to a Twitter space to discuss self-care and self-love for business owners.
Their answers and experiences are insightful and we have curated them to help you find inspiration to put yourself first.
Prioritise Sleep
Showing off eyebags caused by a lack of sleep and bragging about how little you sleep every night is not a flex! Not getting enough sleep means that you will not perform at your optimum during the day. It may also introduce you to unhealthy lifestyle changes in a bid to use supplements such as caffeine or energy drinks to keep you awake.
To ensure true rest, keep your devices away from your bed and don't head to bed with your phone in your hand. Keeping devices close during sleeping time opens the possibility of mindless scrolling that may keep you awake for hours.
Reward yourself
The problem with the way we view self-care and self-love is that we think about it always being long vacations or shopping trips. But in the middle of busy transactions and stressful transactions, it is difficult to squeeze out time for a quick trip to Santorini, isn't it?
That's why the trick is to celebrate and reward yourself every day. Did you make a good sale? Reward yourself with your favourite drink. Did you deal with a difficult customer? Reward yourself for a job well done with your favourite dish. A busy week sorting customer orders? Go and see a movie during the weekend!
Delegate/Hire For Ease
If your business has grown to a point where it can afford to hire an employee, then it is a step that you should absolutely take. Hiring your first employee(s) can be challenging because you have to teach someone else your processes or information about the business. But the rewards are long-term and incredibly helpful. Employees who grow with the business and provide value will give you the freedom to periodically rest and recharge.
Workout
Working out is a great way to start your day or end it depending on your schedule. It relieves stress immensely and serves as a blocker from starting out your day by working or ending it by continuing to work.
Schedule Happiness
The same way you schedule activities for your business is the same way you should schedule some downtime for you to rest and relax. Don't wait until you feel tired and demotivated before you block out some time for something that makes you happy.
An easy hack is to schedule a couple of days every quarter to take out time to truly unplug and relax. This time-out will leave you feeling refreshed every couple of months.
Nobody says it better than Kizz Daniel " You don work, you don try, you suppose to enjoy” Putting these tips to action in your life will help you rest, achieve a better mental state and be more productive as a business owner.
