Here is a guide to a few self-care strategies:

Here’s a question to ask yourself; When did you last give yourself a self-care service?

Much like owning a car, we prioritise many things over our own health. Today we are going to look at a self-care strategy in order to be successful in business.

Keeping up with the everyday pressures of running a business can leave business owners exhausted, both mentally and physically. It’s time to get out of the fast lane and rethink your approach to self-care and your personal success.

We all travel around with these micro computers in our pocket, known as the smart phone. ‘Normal’ over the past decade has well and truly been redefined due to these technological disrupters. We now communicate 24/7, including those running a business, allowing ourselves no time to switch off. Technology has created a marketplace for an array of business disruptions, putting more and more pressure on the business owner to have hold of the wheel! No matter where you turn as a business owner, you are under immense pressure to perform. We simply are not coping. 1 in 5 Australians each year suffer from mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, counting for the second highest group of Insurance claims in Australia. Is it time for you to build in a self-care strategy?

Are you a high achiever?

High achievers in business are passionate, driven individuals who want to succeed. They set their mind to something and making it happen. This is a great quality to have if you are looking to make a success out of running a business, or setting your career destination for fast progression.

However, this drive and determination, along with running a business, having a partner, children and overall life responsibilities, is where the cracks in the road appear. High achievers believe they can do everything, and all at once. What would have worked well, as someone setting out in the 20s, is a totally different challenge at 40, with children. The day comes when you simply don’t have the energy to work into the night, you start to hit a wall, its usually emotionally and then physically draining, all by 8pm.

High achievers don’t generally believe in limits

Humans are not machines

No matter how much drive or talent you have, it’s good to remind yourself that you are not a machine. However, thinking about it, serviced machines are looked after better than ourselves. We agree we need rest, holidays, time out but when life and work takes over these take the back seat. We sacrifice all those things that come under self-care.

The challenge is we do not take time to analyse what we are doing to our bodies, emotions and close relationships generally until it is too late.

Here is a guide to a few self-care strategies:

Respect yourself | You need to take time to fully respect yourself in order to effectivity care for yourself. As you get older your needs change, you need to respect yourself enough to learn what you now need, to relax and have energy, to achieve business success, along with the life you want to lead.

Deliberate planning | You plan your business strategically but do you take time to plan your life? Work in order to live, don’t live to work. Technology doesn’t allow for us to take time out, so deliberately plan time out.

Create a default diary | Leave space in your diary each day for ‘you time’, don’t max out your day. Reflection time each day could just mean a matter of a 10minute walk, a manicure or massage, or laying out on the lawn absorbing the sun’s rays. Whatever you need to do to relax, allow yourself time.

Replenish | Find a passion other than work. Maybe it’s a sport, reading, riding a horse, gardening. It will do you the world of good, and only benefit you when you are in the workplace.

Weekly rhythm | Create a time off structure, don’t work every second, of each day. You can use any structure as long as it’s consistent. You could choose a day off a week, one weekend each month, a week off per quarter and a 2 week annual holiday. It’s up to you to find the right rhythm.

Business success is more like cruising the Great Northern Highway than shooting up the Freeway. Create that foundation of self-respect in order for you discover a self-care strategy that works for you.

Looking to gain time in your business to allow for self-care? Contact us to discuss how processes in your business can ease up time for yourself hello@donnabates.com