Introduction
My husband, Mark, has been hospitalized almost continuously for over a year due to a string of health issues. As I try to deal with that, I am also trying to run and grow my business. Needless to say, being gracious with myself and taking care of both my mental and physical health has been a challenge. Today I want to talk to you about how to care for yourself when running your business AND dealing with stressful family issues.
Running your own business is a fulfilling and often challenging endeavor. It demands a significant amount of time, energy, and dedication. However, the entrepreneurial journey doesn’t occur in a vacuum. Many business owners also navigate stressful family situations, whether it’s caring for aging parents, managing family health crises, or balancing the needs of children and partners. It’s crucial to recognize the importance of self-care in maintaining both your business’s success and your overall well-being.
The Importance of Self-Care
Self-care isn't a luxury; it's a necessity. It involves taking deliberate actions to maintain physical, mental, and emotional health. For entrepreneurs, neglecting self-care can lead to burnout, decreased productivity, and a negative impact on your personal life and business. Here’s why self-care is essential:
Sustained Energy Levels: Running a business requires long hours and constant decision-making. Regular self-care practices help maintain your energy levels, ensuring you can meet your business demands without feeling drained.
Enhanced Focus and Productivity: When you take time to recharge, you return to your work with a clearer mind, better focus, and improved productivity.
Improved Mental Health: Managing both a business and family stress can take a toll on your mental health. Self-care practices like mindfulness, exercise, and hobbies can reduce anxiety and improve your overall mood.
Better Decision Making: A well-rested and healthy mind makes better decisions. Self-care allows you to approach business challenges with a balanced perspective, leading to more effective problem-solving.
Practical Self-Care Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs
Set Boundaries: Clearly define your working hours and stick to them. It’s easy to let work spill into personal time, especially when working from home. Setting boundaries helps you create a balance between work and family life. In my business, I have set working hours that I hold to unless there is a client emergency. However, I also make time to walk my dog, go to Mark's doctor appointments, and have downtime for myself.
Delegate and Outsource: You don’t have to do everything yourself. Delegating tasks to team members or outsourcing to professionals can free up your time and reduce stress. (Red Owl Business Services offers a range of administrative and technology services to help you manage your workload effectively.) I have a wonderful contractor that works for me. Her name is Autumn Snay and I am in the process of bringing her on board to handle some work for me and some of my client work so that I have fewer days of feeling overwhelmed.
Regular Exercise: Incorporate physical activity into your routine. Exercise is a powerful stress reducer and boosts both your physical and mental health. Even a short daily walk can make a significant difference.
Mindfulness and Meditation: Practices like mindfulness and meditation can help you stay grounded and focused. They offer a break from the constant hustle and allow you to reconnect with your inner self. In the mornings and at lunchtime I go sit on my balcony and just contemplate the view (see the photo on the right). I quiet my mind and just let myself relax. Sometimes I will put on a meditation YouTube video and listen to that.
Stay Connected: Don’t isolate yourself. Reach out to friends, family, or support groups. Talking about your challenges can provide relief and offer new perspectives. In my case, I have a weekly Dungeons & Dragons group that Mark started when we first moved to New Mexico. This group of friends has been wonderfully supportive and has adapted to playing online so that Mark can continue to play even from the hospital. It's the highlight of our week!
Healthy Eating: Nourish your body with healthy foods. Avoid relying on caffeine and sugar to get through the day. Balanced nutrition supports sustained energy and mental clarity. I have to admit that this one is the hardest for me because I have sometimes fallen into the habit of snacking on things that are not good for me like chips. I have started cooking more and have swapped the chips out for apples, oranges, and bananas and I feel better for it.
Sleep: Prioritize sleep. It’s during sleep that your body repairs itself and your mind processes the day’s events. Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night. Because I stick to my working hours, I make sure that I am getting a good night's sleep every night. I could easily work until late into the night building and promoting my business, but I find that I am exhausted and unproductive the next day. While my business' growth isn't what I had hoped it would be right now, it is growing and it's at a rate that I can currently sustain without getting burnt out.
Integrating Self-Care into Family Life
When family situations add to your stress, integrating self-care becomes even more critical. Here are some strategies to blend self-care with family responsibilities:
Involve Your Family, Friends, or Community: Share your business goals and challenges with your family. Their understanding and support can provide emotional relief and practical assistance. I have reached out for help and guidance to an organization in my community called WESST. Their mission is to help and train new entrepreneurs in how to set up and run their business. My counselor, Kevin Sierra Moran, has been HUGELY helpful in teaching me about the areas of business where I am not an expert.
Create Family Rituals: Establish regular family activities that everyone enjoys, whether it’s a weekly game night, a family walk, or a movie night. These rituals can strengthen family bonds and provide a welcome distraction from stress. In my own case, I take my dog, Molly, for walks 3-4 times/day. It gets me out of my apartment - where I both live and work - and we explore the neighborhood, enjoy the New Mexico desert sunshine, interact with our neighbors, and enjoy one another. In the evenings, I go and visit Mark in the hospital. Sometimes I take him a home-cooked dinner and we will play board games or watch a TV show we both enjoy. We spend time together loving and supporting one another.
Seek Professional Help: Don’t hesitate to seek professional help if family stress becomes overwhelming. Therapists, counselors, and support groups can offer valuable guidance and support. This one is a bit harder for me right now because New Mexico has a chronic shortage of mental health professionals. I do reach out to the friends I've made here and they have been wonderfully supportive.
Set Realistic Expectations: Be realistic about what you can achieve both in your business and family life. It’s okay to adjust your goals and expectations as needed. There are some evenings when I call Mark and tell him I just can't come visit tonight because I'm simply exhausted. He's been wonderful and will usually say, "The best way you can help take care of me is to take care of you." This happens about once every week or two. I just need some downtime - Mark calls it "Cathy time" - where I'm just relaxing and trying not to worry about anything else.
Wrapping Up
At Red Owl Business Services, we understand the unique challenges that come with running your own business, especially when compounded by family stress. Our mission is to support you in creating a balanced and thriving business environment. Remember, taking care of yourself is not only beneficial for you but also for your business and your loved ones.
If you want to explore how an administrative or technology virtual assistant can help you with stressing less, schedule a call with me.
Wishing you health, balance, and continued success.
