The priority for any entrepreneur is to ensure that their business is successful. However, amidst the daily hustle and bustle of running a business, taking care of yourself often gets pushed to the back burner. Making time for self-care not only promotes better mental health but leads to increased productivity in the workplace as well. In this article, we’ll explore a host of self-care tips entrepreneurs can practice to reap the benefits of a healthy work-life balance.

Check In with Yourself

While chasing business goals, it is easy to lose sight of your health because of the time and effort entrepreneurs need to invest toward projects and milestones. But regularly checking in with yourself is a great way to develop a balance between work and health needs. For instance, if you have been feeling more lethargic than usual, it can point to a lack of sleep and physical activity. While one might view going to bed early and dedicating an hour each day to exercise as sacrificing crucial work hours, in reality, these activities will make you feel refreshed and in turn improve workplace performance.

Additionally, research by Exploding Topics shows that individuals spend up to seven hours a day in front of screens such as mobile phones, laptops, and second monitors. Excessive screen usage is a known cause of eye strain, headaches, and a host of other health issues. For these reasons, start being mindful of your screen usage and try to keep it to a minimum beyond work hours.

Utilize Time-Saving Business Tools

To make way for more personal time, it helps to find tools that make running your business simpler and less time consuming. Of course, there are a number of options for these tools, so think about areas you’d like to streamline and then search for solutions accordingly. For example, if you feel like you’re always chasing down clients for payments, look for an invoicing tool that emails invoices to clients and has automatic payment reminders. Not only will you take a huge to-do off your plate, but you’ll also help ensure you’re always paid on time!

Another great option is digitizing your documents rather than using paper copies. This way, you’ll have an easier time searching for the information you need, since you can quickly use the search feature to find what you need in a PDF rather than spend extra time sorting through physical documents. This site could be helpful for making digital copies of your documents — simply use the app to take photos that will automatically be uploaded as PDFs.

Find Time for Exercise

Maintaining physical fitness is not only vital for your overall well-being, but it plays a key role in your entrepreneurial success as well. This is because engaging in regular physical activity provides the benefits of increased energy levels, reduced stress, improved concentration levels, and overall happier moods.

Even if you have a tight schedule, finding 20 minutes a day for exercise is a realistic and doable expectation. Twenty minutes a day totals around 2.5 hours of exercise weekly, which is what the CDC recommends for all adults. An easy way to incorporate physical activity into your schedule is to start walking or cycling to work, taking the stairs rather than the elevator wherever you can, and taking regular breaks to get up, hydrate, and walk around the office during a typical workday.

Additionally, if you prefer a structured approach, there are a host of free apps dedicated to helping busy individuals develop a reliable fitness routine. Your regime will be personalized based on your goals of being active, reducing your weight, and/or building muscle. Moreover, many of these apps leverage the power of gamification, allowing you to compete with others using the app, serving as an additional source of motivation to remain consistent and develop a routine.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

It’s no secret that entrepreneurship involves a high level of stress and pressure. Additionally, as the owner, the burden of all decisions falls on your shoulders, and learning how to manage this responsibility is key to being successful.

Incorporating relaxation techniques into your daily routine can help alleviate stress, which will help you make sound, practical business decisions. From simple breathing exercises to more advanced meditation and mindfulness practices, there are several relaxation techniques you can try in the office or at home.

For instance, before joining an online pitch meeting with investors, take five minutes to drink water and practice deep breathing. Focusing on your breath will get your blood pressure to baseline, reducing the production of cortisol (the stress hormone) and helping you gather your thoughts rather than succumbing to stress.

Prioritizing self-care as an entrepreneur is a necessity for long-term entrepreneurial success. By checking in with yourself, finding time for exercise, and practicing relaxation techniques, you can achieve a healthier work-life balance and improve business performance. By implementing these self-care practices, you'll experience the positive impact they have on your entrepreneurial journey.

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