Self-care starts with routine, and let me tell you, my time blocking is pretty close to perfect! I have set up non-negotiables for my days even when I feel like I have no time. Some of those include three drinks every morning, water, a homemade green juice, and a black coffee. I also start with a morning run and try (really hard) to not pick up my phone as soon as I open my eyes…this one seems to be the hardest. Anyone else? Having boundaries in place and knowing what’s a must for you is a must for any successful entrepreneur, and the sooner those are set, the better the results will be.
Ready to practice proper self-care as an entrepreneur? Here’s how.
1. Create Boundaries
Be firm with your boundaries. When you say yes to something, you’re saying no to another thing you’ve already committed to. You have to hold your yes’ close to your chest and know when to use them, be wise. They’re pretty valuable.
2. Create Space
Create space for yourself to get into a flow and creation mode. Your space is yours. Read that again. This is where the visionary comes to play. When you’re too busy working in the business you’ll always run out of time to work on your business. Tomorrow really never comes so you have to stop telling yourself that lie. Every week, I have my Sacred Tuesdays where I focus on my personal brand strategy, content writing, community building, and much more. It’s all about The Social Bungalow one day a week.
3. Fix That Mindset
Remember, you’re responsible to your clients not for your clients. You have to know how many hours you’re working with each one, if you respect your time, they will too. If a client gets in touch with you during your non-working hours and it’s not an emergency, it can wait. Be upfront with them at the early stages of your working relationship, whether it’s being unavailable during the weekends or having a 24-hour response time.
4. Health is a Priority
Your health should be at the top of your priority list. The truth is, if you sacrifice your health — sleep, eating, physical activity — for your work, your work will suffer. Your time and mind are your greatest assets. Treat them with care.
5. Outsource Now
Outsource earlier than you think you should outsource. I know. This might sound scary at first, but if you want to grow, you need to get used to letting go. The sooner you learn how to hand off various responsibilities, the sooner you can make more money with your minutes. Can’t afford too much yet? No problem. Hire a free intern in college or get a virtual assistant for a couple of hours a week. It doesn’t have to be a huge investment.
As controversial as it sounds, you have to put yourself first in your business. If you learn how to do this properly early on, you will succeed in the long run. Don’t wear yourself thin; it’s just not worth it.
This is a guest article written by online Marketing Coach, Shannon Lutz of The Social Bungalow. You can connect and follow Shannon on Instagram or her website for more free resources for your online business and lifestyle inspiration.