Happy & Successful Entrepreneurs Practice Self Care

Building and maintaining a small empire is big work and it often requires a lot of long days and odd hours. The most productive entrepreneurs take time to nurture their personal lives and inner selves. That’s all well and good to SAY, but what does that look like in practice?

Setting boundaries

The biggest lesson I have learned in the last few years is the importance of boundaries. Setting clear expectations about working hours, policies, discounts, etc, will save you a lot of anxiety down the road.

Taking breaks

A break can take many forms. A quick morning meditation or a few opportunities during the day to unplug, move your body and reset are necessary every day. But breaks also include bigger things like an occasional long weekend or adventures with friends or family.

Nurturing personal goals

Have you ever had someone ask what you do in your free time and your response is “what’s free time”? Let’s work on that. Anything that is just for you counts as a hobby, and I’ll tell you a secret–you don’t even have to be good at it. It just has to be fun. Plant that garden, read those books, paint, take a dance class, volunteer. Anything that makes you happy makes you more well rounded and more productive in every aspect of your life.

You may feel guilty for taking time away from your business. Rest and recreation may feel frivolous or selfish, but you cannot pour from an empty cup. Rest is a necessary element to your overall health–you don’t have to EARN rest. You deserve it.

Accountability check: hobbies I have often neglected, but have committed to prioritize include gardening, all things crafty, and turning the music up loud and singing like I’m headlining Madison Square Garden (how about that new Taylor Swift album, eh!?!). Tell us your neglected hobby–what pastime have you been putting on the backburner that makes you a happier person? Drop it below and let’s encourage each other to engage in more activities that light us up.