It’s important to take care of yourself as an entrepreneur. This is difficult when you feel like you are always in “go, go, go” mode and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight. However, it’s crucial that we make time for ourselves, or burnout will set in. Here are 5 simple ways that you can avoid burnout:
- Get enough sleep
You’ve heard it time and time again, yet you still make up reasons to stay up late laying in bed with your laptop watching Netflix. I get it. It’s hard to stop working when you are “in the zone” but please try to get at least 6 hours of sleep each night – which means no Netflix in bed. Your brain needs downtime and you won’t be giving it any if you are staying up late working and sleeping only a few hours each night.
- Make small goals for yourself and celebrate your victories daily
It’s hard to feel like we have accomplished something when our “to-do lists” become never-ending. To combat this, try to set small goals for yourself each day and then reward yourself when you’ve completed that goal. This could be anything from a break to a nice hot bubble bath. Whatever it is – just make sure you allow yourself that time.
- Bring snacks with you everywhere
You have had those days where you haven’t eaten all day long and the thought of cooking dinner makes your head spin? To avoid these days, try bringing a small bag of nuts, a protein bar, and some fruit with you to work. This way, if you go out to lunch and get distracted by a meeting you won’t starve.
- Get outside
Taking your headphones off for an hour every day and going on a walk, jog, or bike ride can do wonders for your body and mind. It gives you time to decompress and think, allows you to come up with new ideas, and helps release those feel-good endorphins.
- Get social
Talking to friends and family is great for helping us de-stress and remember why we love doing what we do. Think about it, if you were having a bad day and someone called or texted you just to say “hello”, that should be enough to make your day better.