May is Mental Health Month. While this month is a reminder to pause and reflect on the importance of self-care for entrepreneurs, your mental health should be a priority all year long. This series focuses on the issues that affect entrepreneurs every day—as well as solutions and resources to help you put your wellbeing first.
The day before I launched my first company, I was still awake at 3:30 a.m., writing product descriptions. I couldn’t remember the last meal I’d eaten. (Did I even drink water?) My eyes were sore, I’d skipped my yoga session, and I’d missed six texts from my sister.
That’s when I realized how easy it is to neglect yourself in the midst of building a business. It’s common for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business to ignore self-care – you work during the day and squeeze the rest into the time that was once reserved for rest, fun, or family.
Time and time again, studies show a connection between physical health and mental health, as well as mental health and productivity and creative thinking. Self-care appears to have a positive ripple effect. Entrepreneurs who want to avoid burnout should work toward a sustainable work-life balance that prioritizes their well-being. Below are nine self-care tips for entrepreneurs that fit into a busy schedule.
What is self-care for entrepreneurs?
The term self-care has traditionally been used to describe self-initiated actions to maintain health, prevent disease, philippines email list and manage long-term illness. These include basic needs such as sleep, food, water, and human contact.
Over the past decade, the definition of self-care has expanded to include activities like meditation, travel, and pampering, this suppressive method can lead with an increasing focus on emotional and interpersonal health—sometimes even in a lavish, Instagram-ready form . But at its core, self-care isn’t about manicures, pedicures, and mimosas—it’s about listening to what your mind and body really need. (Sometimes that might be a mimosa after all.)
9 Self-Care Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs
- Don’t forget to breathe
- Minimize stress through exercise
- Prioritize your sleep
- Recharge your energy
- Search for human interactions
- Pursue activities and hobbies outside of work
- Create a workplace you love
- Treat yourself – you deserve it
- Keep an eye on your mental health
Entrepreneurship can be challenging. Between all your responsibilities, it’s easy to ignore your own needs. But be careful: The cost of neglecting yourself now is much greater in the long run. Even small acts of self-care can prepare you mentally, germany business directory emotionally, and physically to handle the demands of running a business. By incorporating the following self-care tips into your daily routine, you’ll create a solid foundation for running your business in a healthy, long-term manner.
1. Don’t forget to breathe
Let’s start with something simple. Breathing happens naturally, whether you think about it or not. But how do you breathe? Do you take short, rapid breaths? Do you unconsciously hold your breath?
There are proven benefits of controlled and mindful breathing. For example, regular breathing helps reduce stress . While shallow breathing is more likely to promote anxiety, full breaths from the belly help slow your heart rate and stabilize blood pressure. Having trouble remembering to breathe deeply? You can practice it until it feels natural with the help of yoga, guided meditations, or breathing exercises via an app or podcast.
2. Minimize stress through exercise
Regular aerobic exercise stimulates the part of your brain responsible for memory and learning. However, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on gym memberships or spend hours on the treadmill to feel the positive effects of exercise on your stress levels.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average adult should get about 150 minutes of physical activity per week (the amount of time you need may vary). That may sound like a lot if you’re already exhausted, but you can break up your activity into small 10- to 20-minute bursts throughout the week: walk your dog, do some light yoga at your desk, or do some gardening.
3. Prioritize your sleep
Lack of sleep impairs decision-making, inhibits creativity, and promotes burnout. You might be able to get more done by working late into the night—but at what cost? Establish a routine with better sleep habits. If you can’t manage to get a full eight hours of sleep, a good 10- to 30-minute power nap can help.
Note: The actual number of hours your body needs is controversial. The eight-hour rule is now being questioned more and more . So more – or less – than eight hours might be ideal for you. Try a sleep app to monitor and optimize your sleep habits.
4. Recharge your energy
It’s not easy to navigate through the jungle of nutritional information these days. Every statement seems to contradict the other. It’s much more convenient to order fast food – it saves time and fills your stomach.
At the same time, toxic diet culture is omnipresent on platforms like Instagram. You can quickly get caught up in the vortex of unrealistic expectations about your body and health. But skipping meals or opting for unsustainable diets can be just as harmful.
Listen to your body. Eat when you’re hungry and allow yourself to enjoy your favorite foods. Self-care for entrepreneurs includes both emotional well-being and physical health.
