Your Complete Guide to Self Care
How to be More Creative and Productive in Your Life and in Your Business
Whether you own your own business or have a demanding career, it’s tempting to feel like you need to work all the time to stay on top.
If you do take time out, you’re relentlessly thinking or worried about what’s happening at work, which can make it very easy to burn out. This is why the most important thing for you to do is to look after your number one greatest asset: you.
Self-care as a busy professional or entrepreneur is vital. If you aren’t taking care of yourself in the process, no matter how successful you are in your job or your business, it’s impossible for you to reach your full potential.
The following are some tips to get you started taking care of you so you can thrive in your life and your work.
Disconnect to Reconnect
Give yourself time to get away from the online world. This means disconnecting from all forms of social media, email marketing, your blog, your online store, forums, even your phone. Being constantly connected to the online world can be draining and counterproductive. Not only may this help you find new sources of inspiration, but also help you recharge so that when you do return to the online world, you’ll feel refreshed.
Exercise Your Body
Our bodies need regular exercise to be productive. Schedule time on your calendar to move your body every day – whether it be an early morning run, a walk around your neighborhood with your pet, or a hike in the desert, whatever activity you enjoy, make the time to do it. Not only will you feel better after exercising but you’ll be more alert and energized to do the best work that you can.
Eat Nutritious Food
As a busy professional or entrepreneur, we often reach for the easiest and most convenient food options, which usually contain too much salt, fat and processed sugar. If you continue down this path of unhealthy eating, you won’t feel your best. Make sure you’re eating good quality food, organic if at all possible. The quality of the food you eat along with drinking plenty of water will help keep your energy up.
Get Enough Sleep
Get clear on how much sleep you need to feel refreshed and productive and schedule your bedtime and wakeup times to accommodate a sufficient amount of sleep each night. Make sure you do this on a daily basis as sleep deprived nights accumulate and can drag you down if you don’t keep on top of it.
Get Away
To function properly, your body and mind need rest; they aren’t meant to be “on” all the time. Schedule time away from your work —whether it’s taking a half or full day completely off to catch up with friends or do something you enjoy or taking a multi-day out-of-town vacation, think about what would help you recharge and make it happen.
Learn to Say No
Saying yes to everything and everyone without considering yourself first takes away your power, which can lead to resentment and self-doubt. Remember you are in control of how you spend your time and your energy. Choose wisely.
Celebrate Your Wins, Big and Small
Whether it’s a phone call to a friend or family member, a nice lunch or dinner out, or taking some time to do an activity you enjoy, celebrate your success, because you worked hard to achieve it!
Practice self-care daily so you can be more creative and productive in your life and in your business.
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