Achieving Balance: Self-Care Practices for Women in the Business World
What do you think of when you hear self-care? A spa day? working out? “me” time? Yes, it is that and MORE! We all think about taking a mental day off or getting a massage or finishing a book but we never get to it. One of the reasons is that we always put others before us or we feel that we are being selfish about thinking of our needs when we have so much to do. How can we take care of others when we are not at our best?
As entrepreneurs, and women in general, we feel like we need to do everything for everyone at all times, this can become tiring.
It’s important to set aside some time every day for self-care. Block it off on your calendar, this can be 15 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour. It depends on your schedule and how much you need to relax. Prioritizing your well-being also means giving importance to your work-life balance.
What is Self-Care?
Self-care is effort taken to maintain or improve your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It’s looking after your own health and well-being.
It’s important to take time to recharge and take care of personal needs among life’s demands and responsibilities. It’s okay to move that meeting to later in the day or tomorrow. If you feel worn out, frustrated, burnt out then it’s time to take a little break.
Self-care practices can include activities such as exercise, meditation, journaling, spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, setting boundaries, seeking therapy or counseling, getting enough sleep, and practicing mindfulness.
There is one thing that self-care is not, it’s not being selfish. It’s hard making wise decision when we are tired.
Setting boundaries is difficult. The hardest part of self-care for me is saying no. We often feel the need to please others, but we also need to put ourselves as a priority.
Why is Self-Care Important?
As female entrepreneurs, we’re constantly on the move, juggling work and home, going through the day with business meetings, calls and deadlines. Self-care becomes essential in such situations.
Self-care can increase your energy and productivity, improve emotional health and help you manage your stress level.
Having a self-care routine can help prevent burnout, reduce anxiety and depression, decrease stress and build a stronger interpersonal relationship.
Self-care is important for several reasons:
- Physical Health: Regular exercise, eating healthy foods and getting enough sleep helps maintain physical health. Prioritizing these activities can prevent illness, boost immunity, and improve overall well-being.
- Mental Health: Self-care plays an important role in promoting mental health and well-being. Practices like mindfulness, meditation, journaling, and seeking therapy or counseling can help manage stress, reduce anxiety and depression.
- Emotional Well-being: Making time for self-care promotes emotional strength and self-discovery. It helps you understand and deal with your feelings, finding effective ways to handle life’s ups and downs.
- Stress Management: You can lower your stress level by doing activities that promote relaxation, like spending time in nature, or practicing deep breathing exercises.
- Improved Relationships: By taking care of our own needs and boundaries, we can foster healthier, more fulfilling connections with friends, and family.
- Enhanced Productivity and Creativity: Self-care isn’t just about resting—it’s about recharging your energy and boosting your ability to work productively and come up with new ideas. When you make self-care a priority, you have more energy, focus, and clarity to tackle tasks and be creative.
- Professional Success: By prioritizing your well-being, you can make better decisions, and maintain success over the long term.
- Quality of Life: Self-care means living a satisfying and meaningful life aligned with your values. When you prioritize self-nurturing activities, you improve your quality of life and feel happier and more fulfilled.
Some of my favorite self-care routines include journaling, reading, listening to music/podcast, playing a board game, watching a movie and taking a short nap. Even getting a little sun goes a long way!
Signs of Burnout
What exactly is burnout? According to Psychology Today, “Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress.”
We can get burnout from working long hours without rest, not sleeping well and not taking care of ourselves.
Signs of burnout include:
- Fatigue
- Hard time sleeping
- Negative attitude
- Reduced productivity
- Anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating
- Headaches
- Change in appetite or weight
Self-Care Routine
For women entrepreneurs, taking time for self-care is vital to stay balanced and well while running a business.
Your self-care routine can include some of the ideas below:
- Morning Practice: Begin your day with a mindful routine to start off positively. This might mean meditating, doing breathing exercises, or taking a moment to think about your goals for the day.
- Breakfast: Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast to keep your energy up all day. Choose foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins to help you stay focused and energized.
- Movement: Include some physical activity to get your blood flowing. You could stretch, do yoga, take a short walk outside, or do a quick workout.
- Work Blocks: Set aside specific times to work on your most important tasks and projects. Minimize distractions and interruptions to stay focused and get more done.
- Lunch: Use this time to eat a balanced meal mindfully or do something relaxing that makes you happy.
- Afternoon Break: Take a quick break in the afternoon to recharge and avoid getting too tired. You could take a short nap, relax your muscles, or have a healthy snack to boost your energy.
- Creative Outlet: Set aside time for a fun, creative activity that makes you happy and sparks your imagination. You could write in a journal, paint, craft, play music, or do anything else that lets you be creative.
- Connection: Make time to talk with loved ones or colleagues. Plan a phone call, video chat, or meet-up with a friend to strengthen relationships and feel less alone.
- Evening Wind-Down: Create a relaxing evening routine to tell your body it’s time to unwind and get ready for sleep. You can relax with meditation, read a book, or take a warm bath before bed.
- Sleep: Make sure you get 7-8 hours of good sleep every night. Create a peaceful sleep environment with no distractions, stick to a bedtime routine, and use relaxation methods to help you sleep deeply and wake up refreshed.
I know some of these are easier said than done, but take small steps and start off simple.
25 Self-Care Quotes
- “Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.” – Katie Reed
- “You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.” – Unknown
- “Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” – Eleanor Brownn
- “Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.” – Jana Kingsford
- “Self-care is how you take your power back.” – Lalah Delia
- “Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort.” – Deborah Day
- “Self-care is a divine responsibility.” – Danielle LaPorte
- “You owe yourself the love that you so freely give to other people.” – Unknown
- “An empty lantern provides no light. Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly.” – Unknown
- “Self-care isn’t about self-indulgence, it’s about self-preservation.” – Audrey Lorde
- “Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean me first, it means me too.” – L.R. Knost
- “The practice of self-care is not about being selfish; it’s about being self-aware.” – Unknown
- “You are your best thing.” – Toni Morrison
- “Self-care is how you take your power back.” – Lalah Delia
- “Self-love, self-respect, self-worth: There’s a reason they all start with ‘self.’ You can’t find them in anyone else.” – Unknown
- “You can’t change what’s going on around you until you start changing what’s going on within you.” – Unknown
- “Allow yourself to enjoy each happy moment in your life.” – Steve Maraboli
- “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha
- “Self-care is a deliberate choice to gift yourself with people, places, things, events, and opportunities that recharge our personal battery and promote whole health – body, mind, and spirit.” – Laurie Buchanan
- “Self-care is a necessity, not a luxury.” – Unknown
- “Self-care means giving yourself permission to pause.” – Cecilia Tran
- “Remember to take care of yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup.” – Unknown
- “You can’t do a good job if your job is all you do.” – Katie Thurmes
- “Self-care is the secret weapon of successful women.” – Unknown
- “The better you take care of yourself, the better you can take care of business.” – Unknown
There is more to life than work. Set your self-care as a priority and be happy!
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