Entrepreneurship is a life filled with thrill, reward, and success, but also constant change, uncertainty, and steep learning curves. While you might feel compelled to give your business all the energy and resources you have, especially in the beginning stages, it’s crucial to take time for yourself, too. In fact, self-care ought to be just as important as learning how to set up a killer email campaign. Your well-being and business depend on it! In this article, I’m going to share four tips for practicing self-care as a female entrepreneur so you can remain healthy, happy, and productive as you continue to build your empire.
1. Plan ahead
A very helpful technique for creating balance is to write out a weekly to-do list. Take some time each week to sit down and plan out what work tasks you’ll complete each day. Be sure not to overschedule yourself. Rather, give yourself a moderate amount of daily work that will still allow for free time. Having a schedule as a guideline can help you relax in knowing that as long as you complete what you scheduled, the rest of the day is yours to do with as you please. Unplanned things might come up throughout the week and you might need to move some things around here and there, but trust me, having a laid-out plan acts as a soothing balm for a busy mind.
2. Outsource some of your tasks
As a female entrepreneur, you have to wear what seems like a gazillion hats and juggle a million responsibilities. When possible, you might want to consider outsourcing some of your tasks. With outsourcing, you can hire freelancers or virtual assistants to complete certain tasks for you, allowing you more free time to decompress without feeling like you’re not accomplishing what you need to.
3. Don’t be afraid to unplug
Studies repeatedly show that excessive smartphone use is linked to increased mental health issues like depression and anxiety. That’s why it can be extremely helpful to unplug completely when your workday is done. That means shutting your laptop down, not checking your email, staying off social media, and not answering work-related calls. Working longer hours doesn’t always mean you’ll be more productive or successful. In fact, always being “on” can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. That’s why it’s crucial to put your work away each day and allow yourself time to relax and spend time with your loved ones.
4. Celebrate your accomplishments
Female entrepreneurs can often be too hard on themselves or feel like they need to prove themselves and conquer their goals quickly. While it’s great to have goals, wanting to have a successful business right away can generate a lot of stress and cause you to forget to celebrate your accomplishments. Be sure to acknowledge your wins, no matter how big or small. Whether more people signed up for your email list or you published a course that you’ve been working on for months, take a moment to relish in your accomplishment. After all, success is just a series of small wins.
Prioritizing yourself has a positive ripple effect
Whether it’s socializing with friends and family, exercising, or relaxing on the couch with your favorite snack and Netflix show, making time for yourself is crucial not only for your well-being, but also for the success of your business. Don’t forget to pencil in adequate time to relax and have fun—your body, mind, and business will thank you!
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of mental healthcare, wellness and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is not a substitute for a relationship with a licensed mental health practitioner. Always seek the advice of your therapist, physician or other licensed mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding a mental health condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional mental health advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.
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