“What have you done for yourself lately?” Self-Care for “The Entrepreneur Life”

Taking a break is necessary for your mental health

“Be you, love you. All ways, always.”- Alexandra Elle.

As entrepreneurs, we often get so caught up in building our businesses that we can forget we also need to take care of our greatest asset-ourselves.

According to Forbes Magazine, “the mental health statistics for entrepreneurs are shocking. Research suggests that 72% of entrepreneurs report mental health concerns, with founders being 30% more likely to experience depression than a member of the general public.”

However, all is not lost.

Many entrepreneurs have also been able to build successful careers, after experiencing first-hand the hard lessons of burnout.

Lovies, It’s time to start managing your health and well-being from the inside out.

Listed below are 5 strategies designed to help you to become happier - physically, mentally, and spiritually :

1. Include “me time” in your daily “to-do” list.

Choose something - meditation/yoga, writing in your journal, reading one chapter of a book, or playing a game with your kids. To be successful, it’s critical that you purposely set aside time each day when you can quiet your mind and get in tune with yourself.

“Me time” helps you become more self-aware, as you reflect on the day, where you’re at, and most of all - where you’re headed.

Schedule "Me time"- just like you schedule in everything else!.

“Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer” -William S. Burroughs, American writer and visual artist.

2. Exercise daily

The hardest thing to start (and the easiest thing to drop off ) is a scheduled exercise program-trust me, I know. However, in order for you to have needed energy for everything entrepreneurship requires, it means you're gonna have to “get up and get going”!!

3. Start saying ‘No” - And Mean It

In our day to day, we often overschedule ourselves - and then wonder why we feel overwhelmed most of the time. If this is something you're currently struggling with (you people pleaser you!) here’s the thing - you don’t need to do everything.

By saying no, you’ll give yourself more time to pursue other interests. and in so doing create more opportunities for growth.

4. Find ways to unwind every day.

Kick back-you deserve it!!

When you give yourself permission to unwind, you also allow yourself to decompress and reconnect with friends and loved ones. This helps you to refresh (just like your browser) and you’ll be better able to handle the daily pressures of life (and biz).

“You can’t eat beauty. It doesn’t sustain you. What is fundamentally beautiful is compassion- for yourself, and for those around you. That kind of beauty inflames the heart and enchants the soul”- Lupita Nyong’o.

5. Feed yourself.

By that, I mean - eat healthy, nourishing food!! I know, we’re all guilty-myself included- of eating just to keep going; which is often not the healthiest of options.

While it may be hard to start, it’s surprisingly easy once you get into the habit of what I call “mindful eating”. The added benefit is renewed energy, which helps you to maintain focus, become more productive – plus, you’ll shed those unwanted pounds.

Make "raw vegs" occupy 85% of your plate-Make "grazing" your priority!

So there it is, 5 easy ways for you to do good to yourself, by yourself, for yourself... I know you can do it, and together we'll make this the phenomenal breakthrough year we both know it's going to be...

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