Owning a small business or going the route of a solopreneur can keep you busy. You may be trying to market your company, perform work for clients, take care of your home life and be there for your family. With all that time going to everyone else, there isn’t much left for you. Lack of self-care can lead to burnout, making it harder to get back to work. Here are a few tips from Jack Up Your Life that can make life a little more bearable when running your own business.
Give Yourself Time To Breathe
Assess how you are feeling on a daily basis. Today might be good but what happens if you wake up and tomorrow feels unbearable? Consider taking time out of your schedule, either in the morning or the evening, to meditate, practice yoga, stretch or do something that allows you to breathe and clear your head. You’ll likely be doing these things at home, so be sure your living space is as stress-free as possible. Take some simple steps like decluttering and organizing your area to create a positive atmosphere that allows you to easily relax and unwind.
You might also consider joining a fitness group with individuals who share one of your passions. Doing so will allow you to get physically and mentally beneficial exercise while also building friendships. Taking time for yourself allows you to think about your day, and the Berkeley Well-Being Institute suggests figuring out what goals you want to achieve going forward and deciding how to refine your schedule.
Part of being able to make time for yourself is accomplished by optimizing or eliminating recurring business tasks. Accounting tasks can be a major time sink, so make sure your finances stay organized with invoicing software that makes the process as quick and efficient as possible. Plus you can customize your invoices with your business’s logo and colors to stand out to your customers.
Let Others Help When Necessary
Although you may feel you have to take care of everything when running your own business, it can be beneficial to outsource and let experts take over certain areas. If you have employees, perhaps an outside payroll system might make it easier than trying to cut all the checks yourself.
Maybe you need help changing from a sole proprietorship to a limited liability corporation, also known as an LLC. Deciding to have your company structured as an LLC means you carry less overall liability for your business, may receive special tax advantages and often enjoy reduced paperwork requirements. Rather than hiring a lawyer, you can avoid costly fees by using a formation service.
Take Care Of Your Body
Just because you are a business owner doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a life outside your company. Make time to eat properly, focusing on fresh vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. Work out at your gym or at home without weights or engage in other types of physical activity you enjoy, such as jogging or boating. Working out at least five or six times a week and eating balanced meals help ensure you have the energy for anything that gets thrown your way when handling your business. Experts cited on MedlinePlus suggest that these practices may also decrease your risk of getting sick.
Get that Degree
If a business degree has been top of mind since you launched a business but you’ve been unable to make any headway, it’s time to make this a priority. If you want your business to reach new heights, it helps to have a solid understanding of business management, operations, marketing, accounting and leadership. Yes, running a business takes a lot of your time, but being able to elevate your business through enhanced acumen is easy if you opt for an online degree. This way you can run your business and learn new ways to make it better.
Know When To Stop
Don’t say yes to every request that comes your way. It is important to know when you have packed your day and make the decision to stop. Err on the side of caution, and start saying no to things — unless they are absolutely essential — to avoid a heavy workload. You can always go back to volunteering at your child’s school or taking on something else, but give yourself permission to stop for now. This can make a huge difference in how you feel about the overwhelming demands on your time.
If you own a small business, it is important to practice self-care. Keeping yourself from feeling swamped allows you to grow your company, avoid burnout, and helps you feel your best no matter what is going on.
By Emma Grace Brown
