As an entrepreneur, you have a lot of spinning plates going all at once, and if any of them falls and breaks, it can end up sending them all crashing to the floor. No wonder you’re stressed!
The problem with being stressed from keeping all those plates in the air is that the more stressed you are, the harder it is to keep those plates from crashing. It may feel counterintuitive to slow down when you’re worried about keeping up, but a more relaxed you means a more focused and productive you.
The Happier Way Foundation’s mission is to help individuals and communities find a
happier way to think, act, and live. Here, we offer some tips on how you can learn to take
some time for some self-care to balance your work and personal life.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment. It improves your mental well-being, reduces stress and anxiety, and helps with focus. You’ll need to find a quiet, peaceful, and comfortable place to get away for a brief period of time. It should be free of distractions, so leave all your electronics in another room.
Make sure you’re comfortable, but not so much that you fall asleep. Notice your breathing and focus on one thing~the moment you’re in. If your mind begins to wander, gently guide it back to focusing on all your senses and the present moment. There are meditation apps you can use that can guide you and help keep you focused.
Exercise to De-Stress
Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and practice self-care since it gets you away from work while improving your body as well as your mind. It can help you sleep better at night, too, which is essential for your health and productivity and improves your immune system.
Walking clears your mind and allows you to forget the stressors in your life. It can also help you feel more grounded and present in the moment. Walking outdoors means fresh air, which helps oxygenate your cells and your brain while the sun loads you up with vitamin D.
Tai Chi is a gentle martial art that combines fluid, deliberate movements while also concentrating on breathing and focus, which strengthens your body while calming your mind.
Aerobic exercise like running, swimming, or bicycling reduces stress by releasing endorphins, which are your body’s happiness hormones. This elevated your mood and gives you a boost of energy.
De-Stress Your Business Practices
There are ways you can take some stress out of your business day, too. For example, if you’re worried about how your business could potentially cause a threat to your personal finances, you should know there is a way to protect from that by structuring your business as an LLC since it separates your personal from your business finances. LLCs also have a lower tax liability and less paperwork, and it is something you can set up yourself without the need for an attorney. Use a guide like this for how to start an LLC Florida. Just note that rules vary from state to state, so check with your state to see what their rules are.
You’re probably storing and sharing files as PDFs, but they’re difficult to do anything with because, as PDFs, they cannot be edited, which means you have to keep starting over. But that doesn’t have to be, thanks to PDF editing tools. You can convert your PDF to a Word document to make edits and move files around, then put it all back in PDF form for easy sharing. It will even have a sticky note function throughout the text, allowing you to alert other individuals on your team something about the text.
And finally, set boundaries. A tight schedule that you stick to that gives you time to relax and practice self-care every day is key to making it all work. Remember, caring for yourself is as important a business task as any other on your calendar, so be sure and treat it as such.