One of the biggest challenge entrepreneurs, especially those who work at home, face when building their businesses is burnout. When you're working at making your business a success, it's easy to overlook something as simple and prosaic as your self-care. You think to yourself, I'll have time to exercise/eat well/relax when the business has reached such-and-such level. After all, you're passionate about your business, and all your energy is naturally devoted to making it a success. But one thing no one tells you when you decide to go into business for yourself is that, if you're an entrepreneur, a self-care practice is essential to your long-term success. When you neglect your self-care for too long, your business can start to seem like the boss out of your worst corporate nightmare. Remember the freedom you thought you'd have as your own boss? You now feel like you are locked to a treadmill; the work is never done. You may even start to feel disconnected from your own inspiration to launch the business in the first place. What's worse, this energy of disconnect, fatigue and overwhelm then seeps into your business. You may find yourself holding back in some subtle way when talking about your business to a potential client or partner or secretly relieved when a potential client doesn't sign on because, deep down, you're not sure you really have the energy to give new clients or projects. And then where is your business? A self-care practice will keep you connected to your original entrepreneurial inspiration and give you the energy to make it to the finish line. Here are five simple self-care tips that will help you avoid burnout in your business. Self-Care Tip #1: Take a daily walk This is one of the first things that goes by the wayside for entrepreneurs, especially if they work at home. You love your business, and it may initially seem counterproductive to take some time away. Consider this, though: exercise, including moderate walking, has been shown to improve brain function and reduce stress. By taking a brief walk, you'll be sharper and more focused when you return. What's more, you may be surprised by how many inspired ideas come to you if you allow yourself what I like to call a "daily constitutional." Start with 20 minutes. Everyone can afford a 20 minute break; if you can't, it's time to check in with yourself about why you work for someone who won't allow this. Self-Care Tip #2: Plan ahead for a healthy breakfast and lunch Regular, healthful meals are essential for avoiding burnout. Unlike the days when you worked for someone else, you can eat breakfast and lunch whenever you want to, and, if you work from home, you can make your meals in the comfort of your own kitchen. Too often, though, entrepreneurs have one or more of the following experiences: they become so involved that they don't eat at regular times and then experience the resulting mood swings; they don't want to take the time away from work to prepare something healthy and so they run out for fast food; or they take too much time preparing meals and are then stressed about what they didn't get done. So, even though you have a lot of freedom, take the time at the beginning of the week to make sure you have a plan for what you're going to eat and the ingredients on hand. The good food will support you in everything you want to do for your business, and by pre-planning, you may find that you have time to actually eat your lunch, relaxing with a good book or enjoying the leafy shade in your backyard. Self-Care Tip #3: When working at home, establish transitions between moving from "home" to "work." When you work from home, there is no transition between going from "home" to "work." This means that it can be very hard to focus at the beginning of the day and very hard to relax at the end of the day. The result? You can end up feeling like you are working all the time, which will eventually cause you to burn out. Establish a ritual that will mark the transition at the beginning and at the end of the day. For example, it could be a brief walk after breakfast before you move to your desk or dancing around to your favorite song after you shut down your computer for the night. Self-Care Tip #4: Establish boundaries for when you will work on your business and when you won't The temptation in our electronic world is to never be disconnected from your business, not for one second. But, when you're launching a business, time to rest and recharge is essential if you're going to have the energy to do everything you want to do. Decide when your "work-free" and "email-free" time is going to be and stick to it. In a sense, your relationship with your business is like any other relationship - you need some time apart or you'll get sick of each other. Self-Care Tip #5: Have a stress-reduction plan There's always a lot of stress when you're starting a business, and, if you don't have a plan for managing it, it will wear you down. Taking steps to reduce your stress is one of the very best things that you can do for yourself and your business. Your plan could incorporate mind/body exercise regimens like yoga or tai-chi, regular massage or bodywork, meditation, or breathing techniques.
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