Taking Care of Yourself at Work and at Home
Life gets busy, crazy, and hectic — there is no doubt about that. This is especially true when you’re a small business owner trying to juggle every ball in your court. But taking the time to invest in yourself is one of the best things you can do for both your personal and professional success.
Self-Care for the “Off” Hours
We know what you’re thinking: There are no off hours when you run a small business. While this might feel very true, you must be intentional in taking time to separate yourself from your business. A few great ways to prioritize self-care include:
- Get a massage. A 60-minute visit to Panache is all it takes to enjoy a relaxing massage. Massage has many benefits, and one of the most important of these is easing tension. Many choices are available, including hot stone massage, sports massage, and Thai herbal ball massage.
- Meditation gives you an opportunity to separate your mind from all the stresses of the day. No matter which technique you choose, give yourself at least half an hour once each day to reclaim your mental space.
Exercise often. Exercise, especially in the morning, is a great way to give yourself a boost of energy. Plus, you have the obvious benefits of weight management and muscle strengthening. You don’t have to engage in a regimented exercise routine, and even something as simple as a 30-minute walk before your shower will have lasting benefits.
- Socialize with friends. Spending time with those you love is important for your mental and physical health. Unfortunately, we let this aspect of life go during the pandemic. Now is the perfect time to retrain yourself to be around people that do not live in your immediate household.
Saving Your Sanity at Work
It is not just what you do in your off-the-clock hours that matters. You can treat yourself well while conducting business with the following tips:
- Step away from the computer screen. Staring at your computer screen all day can give you a headache thanks to eyestrain. Take five minutes each hour to divert your attention. Look out a window, take a quick walk, or write in your organizer. Further, enforce screen time limits at home, which will serve a secondary purpose of encouraging more family time.
- Utilize a DBA. Give yourself a bit of privacy by utilizing a DBA instead of using your full, personal name to do business. According to ZenBusiness, this powerful branding tool is an option for many different types of businesses, including individuals, joint-stock companies, and trusts.
- Outsource time-stealing tasks. Take a look at your daily task list and separate actions by urgency and importance. Most anything that doesn’t fall into this category can be outsourced to a personal assistant. A few things they can do that will free up time for you include managing your social profiles, counting inventory, and calling customers for order pickup.
- Hire well. Your personal assistant is only one individual who can add time back to your clock. You might also hire someone for human resources, shipping, or other areas outside of your expertise. Be cautious when hiring, and only choose people based on their experience and ability to work. Remember, you do not have to hire friends and family — this may only add to your stress levels.
You have to take care of yourself so that you can better take care of your family and your business. The above tips can help you do just that. Make time for yourself, and also don’t be afraid to make small changes at work that give you more time for you.
Author - Gloria Martinez
Panache Salon and Spa provides specialized salon and massage services to men and women in the Erie area. Call 814.838.3333 today to schedule an appointment.
