Self-Care for Success as a Small Business
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Many business-minded individuals are recognizing the benefits of having a side hustle or freelance gig in addition to their regular job. According to CNBC, the ranks of the self-employed are growing substantially, and you may find that your side biz provides you with such a degree of freedom and control over your income that you eventually want to turn it into a full-time business operation. While this can be a great move from a professional perspective, it also requires a good deal of energy, so it's critical that you make sure you're caring for yourself in the process.
Eat Right
When you feed your body, you feed your mind, and if you're looking to start a side hustle or grow your business, you have to make sure you have the stamina necessary to give it your all. Get adequate amounts of exercise, get into a regular sleep routine, stay hydrated, and fuel your body with only the best fresh, whole foods.
According to Precision Nutrition, meal prep can help you plan what you want to eat, and it encourages a system of healthy grab-and-go foods. Entrepreneurs tend to spend a lot of time resorting to quick junk food, which can deplete your energy, and eventually, that can have a negative impact on your business.
Boost Your Oral Health
Similarly to eating poorly, if you have poor oral hygiene, you’re putting yourself at risk for some serious problems including high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and even cancer. Therefore, it’s essential that you brush and floss routinely, regularly visit your dentist for cleanings, and take care of minor issues before they get out of hand.
You may be surprised to learn that crooked teeth can make flossing and brushing more challenging. Not to mention that a crooked smile could affect your self-esteem. If you’ve got teeth that are misaligned, you can straighten them with an aligner. When deciding whether to get in-office or at-home treatment, you’ll need to consider the severity of your alignment issue. In-office treatments like Invisalign are typically used for more severe cases, while an aligner like byte can treat mild to moderate issues.
Build in Personal Time
It can seem counterintuitive to take time away from building your business to make time for personal pursuits, but it actually serves an important purpose. When you rejuvenate yourself—whether that's by enjoying a hobby, visiting with friends, getting in exercise by hiking, dancing, or biking—you recharge! Even just sitting and reading a book or listening to music gives your mind and your body a brief respite. Make sure you are one of the most important appointments that you schedule on your daily calendar. You’re not short-changing your business—you’re giving yourself a much-needed energy boost.
Hire It Out
There are a lot of small day-to-day details around running a business that can be time-consuming when you're the business owner. Consider hiring out certain tasks, whether that means having someone who can run errands, handle customer service, work your books, or even take care of things like delivering packages or handling your office cleaning. This is an investment that can free you up to focus on more important elements of business operations.
You can also apply this principle to your home life. Many people already use a housekeeper from time to time. Another task to consider hiring out at home is lawn care. You can find plenty of reputable local companies to help you on Angi.
Treat yourself
One of the best things about self-care is giving yourself the permission to spoil yourself sometimes. An easy way to do that, which is frequently overlooked, is buying great-fitting underwear. Being comfortable goes a long way to feeling good.
It's exciting, launching a side gig or small business, but to be successful means getting all of your business ducks in a row and taking care of yourself in the process. Take it slow and build in time for personal care, and don’t be too shy to ask for help when you need it.
This article was brought to you by the Stuck in The Middle Podcast, a platform for entrepreneurs, innovators, creatives of African/immigrant descent. Hear stories, ideas, experiences, & advise on breaking the barriers. For more information, contact us today!