There's no denying that running a business takes a lot of time and effort - if you're not careful, you can end up in "work mode" 24/7! Not only is that not sustainable (hello, burnout!) but it's detrimental to both your business and your personal life. Looking after your wellbeing is a many-faceted undertaking, but here are three simple things you can implement today that are a step in the right direction - think more calm, less chaos!
Plan ahead.. Spend time on Sunday or first thing Monday, and look at your work schedule for the week coming. That way, you know what's coming up and you'll go into your week feeling clear on what's happening, and when. Make sure your schedule includes not only breaks, (eating in your car, or standing up at the bench, or over your laptop, is something you can change right now) but also YOUR TIME for the gym, yoga, walking with a friend, or whatever floats your boat. Treat these entries in your calendar just as you would a business appointment - it's a non-negotiable part of your day, and other things that arise get scheduled AROUND these existing appointments, not INSTEAD OF them (major crises notwithstanding).
2. Do one thing at a time. Multitasking is a myth. You cannot do two (or more) things that require high level brain function at one time. When scheduling your week, plan blocks of time for different tasks, and focus on the thing you're working on. Remove distractions - switch your phone and computer email notifications onto silent, and deal with emails, voicemails, or texts in the time you've allocated them, not during your other activities.
3. Have clear "business hours" for your availability. I'm sometimes teaching classes, coaching, or running retreats and workshops on evenings and weekends, but 8am-5pm, Mon-Fri, are my hours as far as availability goes. If a call, text, or email comes in at 5.01pm, or 6am, it gets dealt with after 8am on the next business day. (I understand that this is not practical for every business owner, but having some boundaries around when you're available is crucial, so think about how you can implement this in your business).
Join my Facebook community, Wellbeing for Women in Business for more practical tools and strategies for looking after your business's most valuable asset - YOU!
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