Photo courtesy of Boxed Water is Better.

We all hear the advice, “Take care of yourself first” or “prioritize self-care,” but when you run a business, are responsible for many of the day-to-day tasks, and have a family to take care of, then overwhelm sets in, and you become last on the long ‘to-do’ list. Balancing life and maintaining good health while running a business is challenging.

First, let’s review the benefits of self-care and then evaluate whether it’s worth taking time to do it. Specifically, let’s discuss self-care in the form of exercise because of its numerous benefits for your mind and body. Exercise can mean walking, yoga, dancing, lifting weights, etc.

Here are some benefits that exercise provides for your mind and body:

Enhanced Energy and Focus: Regular exercise increases energy levels, sharpens focus, and improves overall cognitive function and memory. This heightened mental clarity lets you approach business tasks more efficiently and creatively, leading to more productive and successful outcomes.

Stress Reduction: Exercise is a potent stress reliever, helping to manage the inevitable pressures of running a business and managing family life. Physical activity triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural mood lifters, which can alleviate stress and promote a more positive mindset. This can contribute to better decision-making and problem-solving in business and at home.

Improved Resilience: Building a successful business often involves facing challenges and setbacks. Regular exercise helps cultivate resilience by teaching you to push through physical and mental barriers. This resilience can then be applied to navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, fostering a determined and persistent mindset.

Better Work-Life Balance: Prioritizing exercise establishes a routine that emphasizes self-care, promoting a healthier work-life balance. When you invest time in your well-being, you are better equipped to manage stress, avoid burnout, and maintain the sustained energy needed to navigate the demands of both personal and professional life. This balance is essential for long-term business success.

I don’t know about you, but those benefits motivate me to exercise! But you might wonder, ‘How do I actually take the time out of my day?’

Here are three tips on how you can make self-care a regular habit:

1. Schedule the time in your calendar – If it’s not scheduled as a non-negotiable, then it is too easy to push aside, and it won’t happen. Make it your day’s first task, or make time at lunch if possible. Otherwise, skipping at the end of the day is easy because you’re probably tired. If you don’t have time until after work, bring what you need and head straight to the activity after work. If you end up at home first, it’s much harder to get back out the door! Therefore, when you set your weekly schedule, add exercise time too.
2. Use a training app, personal trainer, or classes—Save time and energy thinking about what to do at the gym or which activity to do by using a training app, hiring a personal trainer, or finding a class to attend. All too often, we spend more time trying to figure out what to do than actually working out. Find a class, go with a friend so it’s harder to skip, use an app, or find a trainer who can take this one decision out of your day!
3. Start small – The biggest mistake people make is starting with a too big goal. If one or two days are skipped, then it feels like you should just scrape it all. Instead, start with a small goal of just five or ten minutes doing something. Many would say that’s too small, but it gets you started! In fact, I bet that once you begin your small self-care habit, you’ll start seeing the results and want to continue. So, start small with five or ten minutes of doing something one to two times a week. Then, you’ll add time once you see how easy it can be.

I encourage you to take five minutes to integrate two dedicated self-care sessions into your weekly routine, kickstarting your journey toward enhanced mental and physical well-being. Here’s to your health, happiness, and balance while building your empire!

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2024 issue of CHOICES Magazine