We’ve all heard this term “self-care” thrown around a lot in the past few years. You might even be tired of hearing that you need to do more self-care. 

Well sure, but how when you have sooooo many things to do???

I hear ya, I do. Life is a crazy spinning roller coaster, tossing us around until we wonder when the ride will be over and we can rest!

But the point of self-care is to start building in rest to your life now instead of having to wait until you’re old. 

It’s no secret around here that I’m a big fan of slow marketing because it builds on the philosophy of slow living. We all move waaaay too fast in our modern world. It’s leaving us with escalating mental health issues, drained adrenals, and lives we’re not truly present in.

So, yes, I think self-care isn’t just a nice fluffy thing to do -- it’s crucial to our overall wellbeing and our business’ success. After all, a stressed out, worn out, miserable business owner isn’t a very effective one.

Self-Care: A Definition

It’s a good idea to first define what self-care is and what it is not. 

Self-care is anything you do that you’ve decided feels good to you and is intentionally chosen by you as a way to put yourself first. It can also be something that you intentionally don’t do. 

That’s it, the end. No bubble baths, expensive jewelry, or overly indulgent treats required. Unless that’s exactly what you feel is best for you right now.

Self-care is not something you do once and call it done. It’s also not something you do every once in a while to check that box off your list. It’s more of a way to integrate mindful, intentional, present, slow living into your life so that you can truly love your life more.

The Hustle Trap from Hell

There’s a big freelancer, solopreneur, entrepreneurial trend going on right now. Everyone’s dreaming of the lifestyle where they get to be their own boss and sip herbal craft cocktails on their back porch at noon. There’s a lot of that being portrayed on Instagram right now, courtesy of your favorite business influencer.

But there’s another side to being your own boss: the long days, panic about where the money is going to come from, freaking out about all the marketing things you’re not doing, and imposter syndrome cranked up to the max. 

Let’s all be honest: it’s pure hell.

The truth? None of that is needed. Yes, you need to figure out where your next paycheck will come from. And you need to make sure that your heart is fulfilled by what you’re doing. The rest? Meh.

It’s a race to productivity on top of an already overworked society that feels bad if they take one day off to lounge by the pool or do nothing but read books to their 3-year-old.

So how do you find that slow living balance? How do you prioritize yourself while also building a business?

It all comes down to knowing that you need self-care in order to be successful in your life and your business. Then prioritizing it. That’s right, marking it on your calendar right alongside that sales call with a potential new client. You’re just as important as your clients are.

You deserve rest. You deserve wellbeing. You deserve joy.

Here are a few areas to start paying attention to so you can rework the aspects of your business and life that are sucking you dry. 

1. MOVE YOUR BODY (NEARLY) EVERY DAY.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We’ve all heard that we should exercise more. But that’s not exactly what I’m talking about. If you’re a diehard gym-goer, cyclist, marathon runner…great. (If that’s working for you, of course.) But for the majority of us, moving our bodies is hard and we often find excuses not to.

Movement doesn’t have to be tied to how you look or anything having to do with self-shame. Instead, use movement to feel joyful in your body. Then pencil that bliss into your calendar.

Walking, yoga, intuitive stretching and movement, hiking, biking, kayaking, a fun Youtube class. Whatever feels enjoyable to you - do it! It will clear your mind, up your feel-good hormones, and help you have a better vibe about life when you sit down to work.

I do the majority of my best thinking when I’m on my daily walk. It’s a truly useful business tool.

That said...if you’re just not feeling like doing a damn thing one day, don’t stress about it or make yourself feel guilty. Listen to your body and rest.

2. DO-WHATEVER-THE-HECK-YOU-WANT TIME.

There is such an emphasis in our society to fill up our schedules until there’s no room to breathe. But it’s harming our health, causing unnecessary stress, and giving us extra doses of anxiety. 

Every single person needs a little time in their day to just do whatever they feel like doing. Maybe that’s meditating, reading a book, watching a favorite TV show, or going on an aimless walk. Whatever makes you feel free and unstructured is what will be good for your mind and soul.

3. CREATING BOUNDARIES AND SAYING NO.

Women are especially prone to feeling like they have to say yes to everything that comes their way. It really is okay to say no. In fact, it’s necessary if you’re going to have a successful business. Not every opportunity is going to be the right fit for your genius. Not every collaborator is going to have your best interest at heart.

Know what your boundaries are and continue to tweak them as you learn more about what fills you with joy and what drags you down. Of course, there will always be things that need to get done that aren’t fun. But know the difference between must-do tasks and those that you probably should just say no to.

4. WATCH WHAT YOU’RE POURING IN.

Many of us get on the cycle of dousing ourselves with loads of caffeine in the morning and then de-amping our nerves with wine and alcohol in the evenings. If this is working for you (and be honest), that’s fine. We all know our lives and bodies best.

But if this is just making you feel unwell, killing your productivity, and making you wonder if you’re causing real damage to your body… Your instinct is probably right. Find healthier ways to manage stress, get more quality sleep, and get off the hustle train. It’s okay to move slowly sometimes. 

5. HANG OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

It can be really easy to make your new business front and center in your life. Even to the point that you avoid your relationships because you think you’re too busy. This isn’t necessary or remotely healthy.

Humans thrive on connection. Businesses come and go. Money comes and goes. Friends are crucial to your happiness. Give them your time and you’ll feel emotionally full the next time you sit down to write a blog post or do some bookkeeping. Not to mention they’ll become your biggest cheerleaders!

6. UNPLUG AT NIGHT AND SET AN END-OF-WORK TIME.

Entrepreneurs are notorious for working waaaay too much. Maybe you’ve quit your 9-5 only to discover that now you’re working 12-14 hour days. Your partner is fed up with it, your kids miss you, and you long to have weekends again.

This is honestly not necessary. Yes, starting a business can be overwhelming and stressful. But are you really all that productive on only 5 hours of sleep? Probably not. 

Manage your time better while you’re working. Take plenty of breaks. Set a time when you’re officially done with work every day. And unplug from email, texts, and messages for the evening. 

You’ll be so much more effective and happy if you do.

7. SLEEP, SLEEP, AND THEN SLEEP SOME MORE.

Our culture’s obsession with productivity makes us feel as though we’re not allowed to get enough sleep. We know it’s important, but a full 8-9 hours of sleep triggers our guilt button. And then we wonder if we’re the laziest entrepreneur there ever was.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Sleep makes us strong, resilient, healthy, present, tuned-in. Sleep keeps us mentally and emotionally healthy. It makes us physically robust and boosts our immune systems. Sleep makes us feel joyful and at peace.

Sleep is the key to reconnecting with your intuition. And you’ll need your intuition to make business decisions that are in line with your purpose and takes your business to new heights.

Please, please sleep.

8. FIND TIME FOR MINDFULNESS PRACTICE.

This is one of those lines that make people roll their eyes. But how, Sarah? When do I have time to go to a meditation class? I honestly hate sitting quietly trying to think of nothing!

Lucky for you, mindfulness doesn’t need to have anything to do with meditation (unless that’s your jam) or sitting quietly. Mindfulness is just about telling your overly chatty brain to cool it for a bit while you focus on what you’re currently experiencing. 

It might mean sitting in your garden every morning to blissfully listen to the birds sing. Or taking a short walk in the park and admiring the flowers and trees. Or it could mean laying on the couch and listening to some chill music while you let your mind just flow quietly. 

Mindfulness shouldn’t hurt. It should feel joyful and remind you that you’re alive right now. The health benefits are exponential. Get present and get in flow. Your business will thrive if you do.

9. STREAMLINE YOUR WORK AND AUTOMATE!

Most of us are incredibly good at wasting time (I’m raising my hand here). Some of that is totally fine. If it’s what you need to do, please do it. Life isn’t a race.

However, if it’s becoming a problem or you’re starting to notice a pattern that seems to lead to self-sabotage or destructive procrastination, you might want to reassess how you’re working.

Plus, there are those things that you just hate doing, right? Ugh, bookkeeping, emails, and other monotonous tasks.

If you can set up a system for how you work, you’ll find yourself halving the time it takes you to do these monotonous tasks. For example, if you find yourself having to create all the emails, all the questionnaires, and all the contracts every time someone wants to hire you, stop. 

If you can afford it, get a CRM already (I use 17hats ← that’s an affiliate link & you’ll save 10% if you use it). Create your emails, questionnaires, contracts, and welcome sequences ONCE. Then pop a new client into your CRM, hit go, tweak your documents to fit their needs, and move on.

Find the systems and tools that will give you your time back. Tech or analog, do the things that will help you stay on task and on track so you can enjoy your days and slam your laptop shut every afternoon at 4:00 (*insert your predetermined end-of-workday time here*). 

Give yourself the gift of more time.

10. DELEGATE AND HIRE AN ASSISTANT (WHEN IT’S TIME).

If your business is getting to the point where you’re so busy that important things are being missed, it’s time to hire an assistant. I know that we all love our businesses and being the queen bee of our little worlds. But seriously, it’s important to learn how to ask for help and delegate. It’s okay not to be in control 100% of the time.

Look for a virtual assistant who’s in your field and knows wellness. Then ask this lovely angel to take over your general emails, design for and post on social media, handle customer service issues, and be the filter for you (+ a million other things they can help you with). 

And if you’re doing great as a one-woman show? Awesome. Keep doing that until you can feel in your gut that it’s time for help.

11. CONNECT WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED ENTREPRENEURS.

Community is essential in all areas of our lives, including while building a business. Find collaborative, kind people who do what you do and are just as excited for your success as you are. 

Do NOT join communities where competition and toxic behavior run rampant (there are plenty of those online and in-person - beware). But do seek out spaces where people are true adults and are also building heart-centered businesses. If they believe in abundance and collaboration, that’s the place to hang out.

You’ll need other people who understand why such-and-such client behavior is driving you crazy today. Or why the fact that your kid just dumped out every box of cereal onto your kitchen floor while you were on a consultation call is making you cry right now.

We all know this is true: community is essential.

12. STOP LOOKING AT WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING.

On the other hand, if you’ve got a big case of imposter syndrome it’s time to stop looking at what other people are doing. Seriously. 

Unfollow all those ultra-glossy Instagram accounts that make you feel like you suck. Unsubscribe from newsletters that make you feel anything but joy and curiosity. Stop listening to business podcasts that make you wonder if you’re just doing it all wrong. 

Just stop. 

Here’s where it’s time to get in tune with your intuition again. If you’ve read all the things, taken the mastermind groups, or just generally know what you want to do in your business, you’re fine. Start listening to what you want to do. Only use marketing platforms that you think are fun. And stop comparing yourself to others.

13. DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR HOBBIES AND DOING THINGS JUST FOR FUN.

Being an entrepreneur doesn’t mean the rest of your life isn’t fun. You started your business so you could have more flexible and free time right? Then keep that at the top of your list.

Decide what’s really essential in your business, then cut the rest out so you can go have fun. If you don’t need to make six figures this year then by all means don’t make that your must-have goal just to impress others.

Do what’s right for you, including what nourishes your soul. Keep playing the piano, creating those sketches, taking your kiddo fishing, and playing tennis with your friends. If I didn’t make this point very clearly above, your free time is just as important as your structured time. 

Build more of it into your days, weeks, months, and years. You’ll be healthier and save yourself boatloads of regret when you’re older.

How will you start giving yourself more care as a business owner?

There are so many ways we can do self-care that I could probably write an entire book about it (hmmm...). But this list was probably enough to get your wheels turning, right? 

Just don’t forget to ditch all that guilt and shame. You’re not “bad” if you haven’t been prioritizing yourself and you’re not “bad” if you can’t make changes all at once. You’re human. :)

Start small. Make your lunch a slowdown time with a lit candle and some peaceful music. When your eyes start burning from staring at the computer for so long, listen to them. Cup your hands over your eyes, close them, and just let them be for 2 minutes. Find small ways to show yourself that you matter.

Start listening to your gut, know that you deserve rest, and find ways to build more self-care into your days. You’ll do better for yourself and you’ll set an example for others (not to mention also give them permission to not hustle so hard). 

We all deserve a helluva lot more rest.

I’d love to hear about how you’ve integrated self-care into your business.

What kinds of things do you do to make your self feel renewed and present in your life?
What kinds of self-care activities make you a better business owner?