Ever feel like you’re fading or running on auto-pilot? Does the way you run your business and your life not always feel sustainable? Do you find yourself thinking, ‘If I can just get through this week, month, year, then things will calm down after this’? It sounds like you need a ‘put yourself first’ pep talk. Look no further…
What does a healthy you look like?
The human race is finally starting to work out that the mind and the body are connected. How you treat your body will have a direct impact on your mind, and how you treat your mind will affect your body. Both of these will have an impact on your business.
When we’re younger or in the first years of running our business, we tend to think we’re indestructible, that we have unlimited amounts of motivation and energy, and that burnout doesn’t apply to us. Unfortunately, and inevitably, it does. Everyone has a physical and mental capacity, and the sooner we can get into routines that recharge us, the less likely we’ll ever feel completely depleted, and we can retain a steady level of love and energy for our business.
Working long hours, stress and sleepless nights can become so commonplace that they can become part of our identity and be accepted as what’s required of a business owner. We can forget what ‘healthy’ looks like.
Take a look at this checklist of the typical characteristics of a healthy person and count how many you feel apply to you at the moment:
- I get 7+ hours of sleep
- I have a consistent bedtime and wake-up time
- I wake up feeling refreshed
- I have steady energy levels throughout the day
- I feel clear-headed and find it easy to focus when I need to
- My mood is generally stable
- I feel resilient and able to adapt when things change
- I don’t feel overwhelmed by daily tasks
- I don’t feel pain or stiffness in my body
- I have a good appetite and regular digestion
- I eat well
- I take regular breaks during the day
- I get at least, on average, 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day
- I stretch
- I drink plenty of water
- I prioritise personal, family time and time away from the business and set boundaries between the two
- I spend time outdoors.
You will know when and how you feel your best.
TASK: Spend five minutes writing down what you do when you feel your best.
What does a healthy business look like?
Success means different things to different people. Often the picture of success we’re chasing either isn’t realistic or has been inflicted on us by society. Often, we chase money, and a business needs to be profitable to be successful, but once we are at this point, we might think about scaling quality, becoming more sustainable, or taking more time off.
TASK: What does success look like for you?
Take a look at this checklist of the typical characteristics of a healthy business and count how many you feel apply to you at the moment:
- Strong values that guide decision-making.
- Consistent, positive cash flow that covers operations and investments needed
- A good profit margin
- A growth trajectory
- Multiple revenue streams
- Manageable debt and good credit rating
- Regular financial reviews and reporting
- Marketing channels that drive sales
- A clear understanding of the target market
- Good customer retention
- A system to obtain regular customer feedback, which is mainly positive
- A focus on quality and attention to detail
- Standard operating procedures that are documented
- The ability to adapt quickly and respond to feedback and the market
- Keeping a close eye on the rest of the industry and competitors
- Having a good reputation in your industry or marketplace
- Feeling creative, inspired and innovative
- A steady flow of new customers
- Clear communication channels
- Strong supplier relationships
- Low employee turnover
- High employee engagement
- Strong leadership and management
- A focus on training and personal development
- Regular strategic planning and reviews
- Embracing new technology
- Systems and processes that can scale.
TASK: Spend five minutes writing down why you started your business and how you envisaged it would feel to run it.
The best version of you will make the best business.
It’s time to be reflective. What hopes and dreams did you have when you started your business?
TASK: You probably started your own business for a sense of freedom, not to run yourself into the ground. Spend five minutes writing down why you started your business.
How will you work towards being the best version of yourself? Not just how you work or how you look but how you feel.
TASK: Decide how you’ll be looking after yourself going forward for your success and sustainability and the business.
Here are a few ideas to incorporate into your life for a little self-care:
- Plan the fun stuff in first to make sure you have time dedicated to it. Time out of the business will make you better in the business
- Find exercise and outdoor activities you really enjoy
- Make small changes to your eating habits and plan meals in advance
- Create a bedtime routine like reading (not a business book)
- Have time away from screens, especially before bed
- Stand or walk when taking calls or make a standing desk
- Take regular breaks to move and stretch.
It’s time to prioritise self-care; after all, without you, there’s probably no business. But you should work towards the point that the business doesn’t need you to exist.
