Avoid Burnout: Self Care

The grind is 24/7…and not just for entrepreneurs and business owners. Technology has been a wonderful addition to our lives, but it has also brought distractions, the ability to always be working, and the inability to do nothing.

But, for those of us running our own business or working on starting our own business, the drive to always be doing something is constant–it seems like there is always something to do. Not only does it seem like there is always something to do, but we always WANT to be doing something because our business is our passion–we enjoy pouring ourselves into it…at least I do.

My Non-Stop To-Do List

Personally, I find the urge to constantly be updating financial plans, knocking out appointment follow-ups, or creating content for my blogs and podcasts. Despite feeling that urge to always be doing, I’ve learned over the last couple of years that taking a break actually has helped my productivity (more on that later); I’ve learned it’s ok to let that blog post fall to tomorrow or to edit the recent podcast episode after the boys are in bed. Most things that seem very important can wait until the next day, so I can take some time for myself and family.

Do Nothing.

Doing nothing is actually good for us–very good for us.

Don’t freak out…if you’re anything like me, the thought of doing NOTHING seems impossible. Doing nothing doesn’t mean sitting on the couch and vegging out…I mean, it could. Instead, allow your “do nothing” to be something totally unconnected to your business–do something for yourself… self care is underappreciated.

Read a book for pleasure. Get a manicure or pedicure. Meditate. Journal. Go for a walk. Spend time with your family–device free.

Self care for me includes working out, playing and spending time with my family, the occasional power nap (don’t sleep on these…pun intended), reading, and sometimes actually doing nothing.

Just do something to allow yourself to disconnect. Turning your entrepreneur mind off for a bit will allow you to be more focused when it’s time to get back at it–I don’t have scientific evidence to back it up…you’ll have to take my word for it. Better yet, give it a try.

Quality Over Quantity

What’s better… “working” 10 hours a day, but being fatigued, distracted, or unproductive for 3-4 of those hours OR being rested, refreshed, focused, and uber-productive for 7 hours?

The latter.

Take those extra hours and invest them in yourself. Eliminate distractions and put yourself in the best position to be energized and focused during your work hours so you can “do nothing” during your personal hours.

And don’t say it’s not possible…it is.

Check this article in The New York Times about why you should find time to do nothing–I’m willing to bet you’ll wish you would have started sooner!

The New York Times: The Case For Doing Nothing

This blog is purely informational and designed to get you to think; in no ways should this information be mistaken for financial advice. Please consult your financial advisor to discuss how this could impact your personal situation.