How to be a healthy entrepreneur
Working for yourself can be an appealing proposition. When you are self-employed you don’t have to fuss with the boring jobs that you hated in your old position. Instead, you can just focus on the work that you are most excited by. At least that’s the theory. Long term, it’s true that you can create the working culture that you have always dreamed of.
There are some things that you should be aware of when you work for yourself, though. It can be hard to maintain a good work/life balance and to look after your health when you are so focused and driven and your primary goal is to build a company that you can be proud of. Ensure that you have appropriate health care with Medicare Supplement Plans.
There are precautions that you can take to avoid burnout. These tips will help you to look after yourself while you are a small business owner.
Take care of your diet
It can be tempting to grab some fast food or order something for delivery when you’re working from home. It’s also easy to forget to eat when you’re not working a 9 – to – 5 role. Don’t fall victim to bad habits. If you’re not eating a nutritionally balanced diet your health will suffer. Avoid processed foods, limit soda and alcohol, and try to eat lots of fresh vegetables and drink lots of water. You should notice that your productivity and energy gets better after a sustained period of eating well.
Turn off social media
If your role requires that you spend a lot of time on social media, then you’re using social media as a hobby, too, it is easy to end up burnt out. Don’t waste time comparing yourself to other people and their accomplishments. Stick, instead, to things that make you feel good. Disconnect from the Internet outside of working hours and go outside. Call a loved one, go for a walk, or read a book. There is a world outside of Facebook and Instagram.
Look after yourself (not just your business)
Business owners spend a lot of time doing things for other people. Servicing clients and employees can be a full-time job. It is hard work to have to smile and be polite every single day even when a client is being difficult. Take a moment to find some downtime and do some things that you want to do. When you are able to make time for yourself you should find that you feel better and more productive and that some of the anxiety associated with your business fades away. Even spending a few minutes every day doing something outside of work can be beneficial. Whether that’s exercising during your lunch hour with a walk in your new shoes from Orthotic Shop, painting when you get home from work or going for a walk with the dog doesn’t matter, as long as it is something that you personally find therapeutic.
Get some sleep
One of the first things that tends to suffer when a person’s to-do list fills up is sleep. While there may occasionally be times when working late is actually important, most things can wait. The CDC recommends that adults get 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Sleep deprivation reduces productivity and cognitive functioning, can weaken the immune system, and can reduce your mental wellbeing. Stick to a sensible sleep routine.
