You want to be that businesswoman who’s confident, who’s got it all together, and is charging what she wants, all while never seeming to break a sweat.
Yet day after day you find yourself overwhelmed and underpaid, and when you look in the mirror after working nonstop for hours on end, it shows.
What if I told you that the path to becoming the empowered CEO you want to be is simpler than you think? That the answer lies in just putting yourself first?
Here’s the deal: self care is essential to a thriving business. I’m not talking about bubble baths and facials, though go ahead and pamper yourself if that makes you feel good, I’m talking about being thoughtful about where you expend your energy. (Read more about self care as an entrepreneur here).
You might be working yourself to the bone right now but burnout is likely right around the corner. Instead of letting yourself turn into a ball of nerves that doesn’t enjoy running her business, you need to set some boundaries. You can’t sustain working around the clock without time to retreat every once in a while.
If you’re struggling with the idea of limiting your work time because it’s easier to put your wellbeing on the back burner in order to grow your business, I think I can change your mind.
Taking care of yourself helps you grow and maintain your business for so many reasons. Since you don’t have all day, I’ll keep it to my top four: stress reduction, regaining creativity, productivity, and enjoying life outside of your business.
You reduce your stress.
It can be a difficult transition to designate and stick to only working within a certain chunk of the day when you’re used to working all the time. You might only be able to imagine a schedule with boundaries being more stressful because you might have to walk away mid-project. I see where you’re coming from but let’s be honest, it’s more stressful to never take a break than it is to set boundaries.
You regain creativity.
Have you ever been trying to solve a problem for so long that you can’t even see straight? Then when you walk away and come back, the solution seems so clear? That’s because giving yourself some time away allows you to think more creatively. Give yourself a new perspective and it could completely transform your business for the better.
You show up as your best self and are more productive.
Your clients notice when you’re overworked and it often comes out in the work itself. It gets hard to focus after working for a long time, especially if you’re the CEO, CFO, Marketing Director, Administrative Assistant, and every other role in your business. (Learn more about being your own CFO here). It’s only once you set boundaries and get strategic with your time that you’ll be able to produce your best work.
You get to enjoy the life you’ve created.
Part of the vision you have for your business is all of the things it will give you the flexibility to do and afford. (Find out how to get more in line with your vision here). If you never spend any time outside of your business, you never get to reap the benefits. If you imagined that starting your own business would give you an opportunity to travel, go out and do that! It’s still possible to live your dream life but only if you care for yourself.
Once you stop hustling, slow down, and set boundaries, you’ll discover how much more relaxed, creative, productive, and fulfilled you can be while still running an amazing business.
If you’ve just hired employees and are looking to take some time off, check out my other blog about taking care of yourself, How to Take Time Off with Your Peace of Mind.
