How Does Self-Care Fit Into Your Business?
Updated: Aug 5, 2021
“Stress is inevitable, but not uncontrollable!”
—Gracie Chambers, Founder, Gracie Chambers Consulting -
What image comes into your mind when I mention the words self-care and business in the same sentence? Enjoying a quiet drink at the end of the day, and suddenly wondering if you responded to that important email? Maybe it's lying in a relaxing bath, and suddenly wondering what the topic of your next article will be? Mind you, being immersed in water can open the doors to your creative flow, so when that does happen, ask yourself to remember it later so you can get back to enjoying your bath!
Seriously though, how much thought have you given to self-care and how it relates to your business? If you were to think about your business as a living, breathing entity, from a holistic perspective, how healthy is it?
5 Top Tips For Business Self-Care
1. Outsource
A wise person once said 'you've got to invest money to make money', and outsourcing fits this idea beautifully. Gracie Chambers, the founder of Gracie Chambers Consulting says "outsource the things that drain your energy or take you out of your creative flow. With less stress, you can focus on innovation in your business, as opposed to worrying about smaller day-to-day tasks."
Fempire Coach Kate De Jong believes outsourcing is an investment in your business. "Engaging service providers like a bookkeeper, an accountant, marketing support and business administration support, supports my business, and therefore supports me."
One of the first things I did when setting up my energy healing business was to engage a bookkeeper and an accountant. For me, knowing that the financials were being taken care of by experts freed me up to focus my energy on my field of expertise - energy healing.
2. Boundaries
Do you have any boundaries in your business? Kate De Jong is big on blocking time to work on growing her business. "It's essential that I have days where no client are booked in. This gives me the freedom to get into a real creative flow, and grow my business".
Lisa Brandis, founder of Intuitive Reiki International also spoke about the need for clear boundaries especially as business expands. "Even with outsourcing it's easy to feel like you don't have enough time to do everything that needs doing. Setting firm boundaries both with myself and my time helps me keep on top of my business, and allows time for me to work not only in my business but on it."
For me, I am still learning this skill. As my energy healing business grows I am appreciating the power to be found in having firm boundaries on my time. It is reflected in how well I sleep!
3. Stop and Disconnect
Did you know that making time to stop and disconnect from your business day, even if it is only for 10 minutes can lead to greater focus and open you up to a greater flow of creativity? The joys of the digital world have given us a number of great mindfulness apps. Headspace and Calm are two mindfulness apps popular amongst my entrepreneurial friends.
Mindfulness is simply learning to pay attention to your moment-to-moment experiences and focus on connecting with others on a deeper level. This can help create clear communication which can impact positively on your team members, and ultimately your business.
4. Say No!
Lisa Brandis believes that "politely saying 'no' is another way of saying 'yes' to yourself. What we say 'yes' to is just as important as what we say 'no' to. Experience has taught me that when I say 'yes' and I am in full alignment with the opportunity, I am able to give all of myself to the project and it is usually one that yields great results for us both. If I say 'yes' out of obligation or to be pleasing, then they don't get my best self, and I usually end up with regrets and a substandard result".
Deep Patel, Entrepreneur Leadership Network VIP says "By saying no, you give yourself time to engage in other things and reach your full potential. It may seem painful to say no at first, but with time you’ll be declining unwanted plans or nixing unimportant tasks or counterproductive meetings with ease."
5. Be Present
In her book When Things Fall Apart, Buddhist writer Pema Chodron describes being present as being "available in each moment of our weird, unfathomable, ordinary every lives." The more you can bring our awareness to the moment you are in, the more you can fully inhabit your life, she suggests.
The practice of keeping your attention focused on what you are doing in the present moment can keep you calmer and less prone to stress from external factors writes Leo Babauta of Zen Habits "Being present becomes, then, a way to handle any problem, any distraction, any stressor. It allows everything else to fade away, leaving only you and whatever you're dealing with right now". So to stay in the moment, you just need to remember that it’s happening right now, and direct your attention to it. Fortunately, as Chodron writes, “this very moment is the perfect teacher, and it’s always with us.”
Do any of these business self-care ideas resonate with you?
Would you like to explore any of them a little more,
and not sure where to start?
I offer 30 minute free, no-obligation discovery calls designed to give you clarity and provide guidance. Click on this link and book your discovery call today .
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In support of becoming the best you, you can be,
Keryn Rose
Energy Healer
Certified Body Code Practitioner