The guest post is written by Courtney Rosenfeld from Gigspark
Photo by Pixabay
Self-Care A Necessity for Entrepreneurs Why Is It Important?
Starting a business or side hustle can be stressful, and if you’re not getting adequate sleep, eating well, or taking time to recharge, you run the risk of distraction and burnout.
According to Mayo Clinic, this could lead to fuzzy focus, poor decision-making, and potentially costly mistakes. At some point, you may even lose the passion and enthusiasm you have for your business — or even come to resent it, particularly if you allow your work to be all-consuming.
Dropner Graphic Explainers offers resources that can help free up much-needed time for yourself.
What Is Self-Care?
Self-care means different things to different people. If you value alone time, personal care might mean setting aside time every day to meditate, read, or take a solo hike.
If you thrive on the energy of others, self-care might mean making time to participate in a sports league or to join friends for dinner once a week.
Other universal self-care measures include nutritious meals, hydration, rest, physical activity, and a commitment to have a life outside the office.
It’s also important to manage any chronic illnesses and to let your primary care provider know if you begin to experience especially high levels of stress.
Strike a Balance
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to use your time management skills to create a healthy work-life balance.
This is especially important if you have a full-time job and a side hustle. Entrepreneurs often dig in during startup, telling themselves that once things are up and running, they can slow down and catch their breath.
One of two things typically happens here: things never slow down or you become so accustomed to the pace that it starts to feel like the norm.
Once you’re running on high 24/7, it can be hard to slow the pace. You’re better served to set a reasonable schedule from the start and make extended hours the exception rather than the rule.
Be Prepared
Having all of your business plans in place before opening can help ensure a smooth launch, and the time you save putting out fires can be used for personal pursuits of your choosing.
As part of your pre-startup phase, develop a business and marketing plan to outline all key operational functions of your business, hire and train employees, if you have them, and develop a plan to attract customers.
Social media can be a serious asset to small businesses with limited budgets. If you aren’t savvy in this area, consider hiring a freelancer. Social media managers’ hourly rate averages about $14-35 an hour.
Learn to Delegate
As self-starters, Business Insider says many entrepreneurs feel like they need to handle every single business function themselves.
Chances are, this is not a good use of your time. Instead, delegate tasks to trusted members of your team, or hire them.
Freelancers and independent contractors can bridge the gap if you just need occasional or project-oriented help.
Delegate at home, too. Hire a housekeeper and enlist family support with household work. Also, consider taking advantage of meal delivery, grocery pickup, and other services that can buy you extra time in your day.
It’s easy to get so caught up in running your business or side hustle that you start putting self-care measures by the wayside.
While a start-up certainly requires a lot of time and focus, ignoring your health can have unintended consequences that impact both you and your business.
Advanced planning paired with a commitment to your personal health and well-being will get you started on the right path.
Learn more about how Dropner Graphic Explainers can help you promote your start-up in a meaningful and impactful way. Reach out today for more information.
Courtney started Gig Spark to be a resource and the first step for people who are looking to join the gig economy, either to supplement their income or as a way to fulfill their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur.
