As small business owners we are busy ALL THE TIME. It is often worn as a badge of honor! Unfortunately, being busy with work all the time is not really that great for you personally or professionally. Constant hustle leads to burn out and can actually slow progress in your business. So, what can we do as entrepreneurs? We can practice self-care! I am not talking spend the day at the spa, main/pedi self-care (although that is awesome). I am talking about small things you can do each and every day to create space in your life to breathe.

Move

Get out of your chair and get some exercise! It does not have to be anything major, but get your body moving. Take a 15-minute walk, do some yoga or simply get on the floor and stretch. We are so busy in front of our computers we don’t realize the toll it takes on the body. By adding some movement to your day, you can relax, clear your head and increase your energy.

Delegate

Are their parts of your business you could delegate to an employee or a virtual assistant? If you have tasks on your plate that do not require the attention of a CEO (that’s you), then find a way to delegate. Not only does this take some stress off, but it will give you some white space to be the visionary of the business. If you are always bogged down with tasks, you will never have time for your next great idea.

Spend Time with People Offline

Depending on where you are at in your business, you may spend a lot of time alone. We have all sorts of online interactions on social media, through email and text but none of those things are as fulfilling as a face to face conversation. Find opportunities both in your business and personal life to be with people in person. Not only is it good for you, but in person interaction will build more genuine connection which will benefit your business down the road.

Establish Boundaries and Stick to Them

No matter what your business is, you need to have boundaries with your clients. Just because we are business owners does not mean that we cannot have office hours, days off and vacations. When you bring on new clients be very clear about when they can expect to be able to reach you, your response time to their emails/calls/texts, and what days of  the week your business is closed. You will do better work for your clients when you have time to rest and restore yourself.

Find Activities and Interests Separate from Your Business

Finally, cultivate some activities and interests in your life that have nothing to do with your business. Entrepreneurs tend to be constantly thinking about our businesses, by finding outside interests it gives our brains and bodies time to relax.

Even though we love our clients and our businesses we can burn out. Before you get to that point create some simple self-care activities that create some relaxation and white space in your life. Not only will you feel better, but it gives you a chance to allow new goals and ideas to come to the surface.