Importance of self-care for business owners

For many business owners, work is all-consuming. But putting in the effort to take care of yourself makes good financial sense. After all, you are your business’s most important asset.

Here we look at how practicing self-care can improve your wellbeing, which in turn can increase your business capability, income, and success.

What is self-care?

The World Health Organisation defines self-care as “the ability of individuals……promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider”. What this really means for business owners is the ability to be and stay well, prevent illness and to cope independently should illness occur.

It includes taking steps to maintain wellness through establishing good nutrition, lifestyle, and hygiene and by the positive use of medication and environmental factors that contribute to overall health.

Preferred self-care practices will vary from person to person but might include:

• Ensuring you are eating well and regularly
• Exercising regularly and doing physical activity you enjoy
• Getting out and about in nature
• Getting a massage or other treatment that makes you feel good
• Reading, meditating or just taking time out to spend time with family or friends

Self-care is not something that should be seen as an indulgence.

Self-care activities are essential ways to ward off stress, fatigue and burnout.

Business owners should not avoid self-care activities because they consider them extra work or a luxury to be carried out only when there is time.

Practicing self-care will help ensure you stay fit, healthy, and well, which in turn will enable you to stay focused, engaged, and attentive to the needs and growth of your business.

A healthier you will be able to work harder

It might feel counterintuitive, but stepping away from work and the idea of taking time out for self-care actually enables you to work harder and longer if the need is there. Practicing self-care is rather like investing in an insurance policy.

When you have a good level of wellbeing, you are less likely to get sick. And if you do become unwell you are more likely to be able to beat bugs quickly because you have a stronger immune system. You will be less likely to experience fatigue or burnout or become sick with stress

Planning for health

As a small business owner, you’re probably great at planning. You’ll have created your business plan, your safety plan, and your marketing plan. If you want to get serious about setting goals for and ensuring your health and wellbeing as critical business assets, then why not create a health plan?

Your health plan could outline why your health and wellbeing are important for your business, some goals for your health, and the self-care activities you could practice. You might also outline what risks there would be for your business if you were to become mentally or physically unwell and steps you might take to address or respond to these risks.

When you consider the gravity and potential for loss with some of these risks, it makes sense to plan for and practice self-care right away.

Rather than waiting until you are starting to experience wellbeing stresses or challenges, it makes sense to start thinking right now about how you can stay fit, healthy and positive. By having a plan for should things become more difficult for you, you will also find it easier and feel more confident to respond in the event these issues occur.

Making time for self-care

Ensuring you are keeping your diary organised and up-to-date is an important skill for all business owners. With competing deadlines, multiple project milestones, financial responsibilities, diverse stakeholders, and an organized diary are critical organisational tools.

But as you are scheduling these appointments and making times for meetings, make sure you leave some timeslots available for you to be able to consciously take some time out from the frantic pace of work. Make time for self-care activities and make sure you complete these activities when they are scheduled.

On some days, there might be short windows of time out during which you can take a short walk, do some stretches or sit down away from the phone and computer to eat a healthy snack. Make sure you schedule longer periods to give you time to hit the gym for a workout, do some lap swimming or attend a yoga class.

Good leaders consider health

All business owners and leaders will work with different leadership styles. Compassionate and supportive leaders set a good example in self-care. They also take an interest in the health and wellbeing of their staff. It has been found that leaders who are highly considerate of their staff’s physical and mental state and offer assistance to those who need support or healing are considered more trustworthy and caring than those who do not discuss health with their staff.

Leaders who understand the value of wellbeing tend to commit to the growth of their people. They believe that their staff have an intrinsic value beyond just their role and contribution as an employee. They are committed to the personal, physical and psychological growth of their employees.

By valuing your own health and supporting your employees towards health you are more likely to see tangible achievement and business outcomes. A healthier workforce is a more productive workforce.

Practice mindfulness

It’s a bit of a buzzword these days, but what does mindfulness mean and what is it about mindfulness that makes it considered to be self-care? Put most simply; mindfulness is an experience in which you are completely and fully present in the moment.

It involves bringing attention to how you are feeling and what you are thinking, in the very specific moment of right now. Mindfulness helps you become aware of your physical body and understand your frame of mind.

Practicing mindfulness will help you temporarily tune out from all of the stresses and worries that can consume small business owners. It is beneficial for when you are anxious about a particular business issue or can’t seem to find a solution to a worrying problem.

Mindfulness will help your mind take a break from these thoughts, which may be just the reprieve you need to develop a solution or see your concerns in a different light.

Understand that people network differently

Most of us prefer doing business with people who are happy, positive and upbeat. When you are feeling fit, well and happy, you are more likely to be able to attract customers and build sound relationships with important contacts in your network.

As a business owner, you are the brand of your business. You certainly don’t want to be seen as cranky, solemn or miserable.

Of course, everyone is entitled to some down days, and it’s not healthy to try and hide your feelings if you are really flat. However, by taking some time to care for and be kind to yourself, you’ll likely feel happier and this is something other people will notice. When you invest in your wellbeing, you will see the benefits flow on through how others see you.

Find a creative outlet

Many small business owners will swear they don’t have time or the inclination to practice a creative art. But undertaking an activity that requires creativity is another act of self-care that can help you in the long run.

Creative expression has been found to positively affect the immune system and is recommended for people who have stress or chronic illnesses. This is because creativity reduces anxiety including hormones, which in turn reduces inflammation. Activities that keep the brain firing also help ward off cognitive illnesses like Alzheimer’s.

Taking some time out to be creative can also improve your relationships with others, because you might find it easier to consider issues or topics with more flexibility in your thinking. Creative expression can also let you release pent up anger and frustration.

There are lots of activities that involve creative thinking, and it’s not just painting. Some people like colouring, writing or photography. Cooking, crafting, woodwork or tinkering with your truck… anything that gets your hands busy and involved in creation.

Sleep well

Sometimes, the most beneficial act of self-care you can practice is just going to bed. Some small business owners work around the clock and consider sleep to be a luxury. It’s well documented that poor sleep affects cognitive ability and makes it hard for us to think rationally and make good decisions.

When you have had a proper night’s sleep you will work more efficiently, be able to make smarter decisions for your business. You will have better judgment, improved concentration and not be so easily confused or overwhelmed by your to-do list. If your brain is feeling foggy, consider getting an early night.

Practicing self-care is an important contributing factor to your health and wellbeing. When you are feeling well and able to fire on all cylinders, your business will benefit. Self-care doesn’t mean being indulgent. Practicing self-care can be done in many ways and should be actions and activities that suit you, your lifestyle and your business.