SELF-CARE RESULTS IN TAKING BETTER CARE OF YOUR BUSINESS. HERE'S HOW.
APRIL 3, 2019
For the First-Generation Entrepreneur (FGE), family, friends, clients, and the daily details of running a business seem to consume the limited supply of time we have available, leaving almost no time to focus on ourselves.
Things that should be non-negotiable – time with our kids or spouse, healthy meals, exercise, and sleep – start to fall victim to other more “pressing” matters all in the name of the business. This is because the traditional nine to five workday doesn’t fit the reality of FGEs.
While it may seem like you have to work 24 hours a day to keep up with your ever-expanding to do list, studies increasingly show that those extra hours don’t add any additional value to your company. You may answer more emails, make more calls, and file more paper if you work through dinner, but you’re unlikely to think creatively or accomplish goal-oriented tasks that translate into a more sustainable business long-term. The path of least resistance is to simply work more. This is why as an entrepreneur, you need to think differently.
Thinking differently means adopting strategies and priorities that allow you to take care of yourself so you can take care of your business. Here are a few tips to manage their ever-increasing workload:
Focus only on what will really move you forward.
Remember: working longer isn’t necessarily working smarter. Carefully consider the essential tasks you must do, those that you can delegate, and those you can simply ignore. Maximize your efforts, energy, and supreme skills in the areas that matter most.
Develop a written plan
Physically document your plan — because the sheer act of putting your plan in writing commits you to it, as well as makes you more thoughtful. Once you’ve created your plan, hold yourself accountable. Develop a rhythm to routinely and systemically review and tweak it to ensure it becomes reality.
Take some time away.
Block time away from the day-to-day pressures and distractions to observe your business through a different lens. Get out of the office and give your mind and body the freedom to think, be creative and relax. You may view the time away as a cost, when really it is the best investment you can make in yourself and your business. If you train yourself to take time away on a regular schedule, your business will thrive, your marriage will be happier, and you’ll live a longer life.
Make exercise a part of your daily routine.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to run a marathon or train for an Ironman. According to Entrepreneur magazine, it’s not important where, how or even how long you exercise as long as you just take the time to do it. Exercise reduces stress, has undeniable health benefits, and keeps the brain sharp. Little decisions you make throughout the day —like parking in the back of a parking lot, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or going for a brisk walk at lunch—can make a difference.
Here are a few quick mind and body reset activities that any entrepreneur can do during a busy day.
Like any other resource, your energy is a precious and limited commodity. Pressing yourself longer, harder, and faster may make your to-do list look good today, but it can likely lead to exhaustion and burnout. What’s worse, when you exhaust yourself every day, you’ll have zero energy to spend on strategy and business growth.
Check out our blog ASK GERBER: HOW DO I ACHIEVE THE WORK/LIFE BALANCE AS A BUSY ENTREPRENEUR? for more on how to schedule that much needed “me time” as an entrepreneur.
How do you take care of yourself and manage the pressures of being an FGE? Share with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!
