Even if you’re running the business you always dreamed of, work becomes a slog. You get up every morning, push through your morning routine, and deal with both the good and the bad of running your own business. And there are always days that have more bad than good.
If you’re not careful, your dream business can become a nightmare you can’t escape. Your business partner was also your romantic partner and when one relationship soured, so did the other. You made the wrong hires and now you feel more like a babysitter than a leader. So much can go wrong and you have to push through it if you want the business to work.
That starts by focusing on your own physical, mental, and emotional health. I can’t help you fix a bad partnership but I can share some of the things that have helped me throughout my own journey. Here are seven tips that can help you not only as an entrepreneur / business owner but also as an employee with an entrepreneurial mindset.
Tip 1: Start your day with meditation & exercise
One of the best decisions I made years ago was to wake up about two hours before anybody else in the house. At times, that means waking up at 4 AM, and I don’t regret it one bit.
Waking up early makes my current morning routine possible, which includes a workout and a meditation session. I change up the order from time to time when I feel the routine gets a bit stale and needs some shaking up. Right now, I begin the morning with exercise and meditate afterward to cool the body down.
Since working out is part of a longer morning routine, I do it from home. I use Apple Fitness for weight training and Yoga, and go for a run or hike sometimes to mix things up. After my workout, I shut off the TV, ignore the phone, and sit down for ten minutes of silence.
Tip 2: Avoid multitasking
Multitasking is a myth. Many years ago, my manager at the time uttered words that rival anything the great philosophers of old have ever uttered:
“Never half-ass two things. Whole-ass one thing.”
Make that your daily mantra. You’ll be surprised how much more you get done compared to when you’d watch a webinar, check email, and prepare a report, all while having a conversation with your teammate.
Focus on one task at a time for a set amount of time. I find a stopping point some time after two hours of focused work. That’s when I check my phone for missed calls or text messages. You may think you’re ignoring other priorities by doing this but it’s what will enable you to do more.
When you do return that call or message, you’ll give the person on the other end your undivided attention. The other person will feel heard and you’ve gotten another task off your list.
Tip 3: Divide your day into sessions of work
My sweet spot is two hours but yours may be different. I set a timer and get to work on a list of tasks, some project-based, others routine tasks done daily or weekly. When the timer goes off, I find a stopping point and take ten minutes to review missed calls, refill my coffee or water, or just walk around a bit before starting the next session.
I’ve tried other intervals up to four hours and you must find the interval that works best for your personality and type of work. And where did I get two hours from? I got it from this Kobe Bryant interview where he explains his day consisting of multiple 2-hour training sessions.
Tip 4: Practice deep breathing exercises to reduce anxiety
Even if you’re at your dream job or running your dream company, stress and anxiety happen. It could be a nightmare customer, a few down weeks, or juggling your professional and personal responsibilities.
One way to stay in control of your anxiety levels is to find a quiet space where you can relax and breathe. I like box breathing, where you time your breaths this way:
- Breathe in for four seconds
- Hold your breath for four seconds
- Breathe out for four seconds
- Hold for four seconds
- Repeat
A few rounds of this technique help you find calm so you can continue with your day in control and without carrying the stress with you for longer than necessary.
Tip 5: Incorporate healthy snacks to fuel your body
You’re not perfect, and neither is your diet. I like my morning coffee and pan dulce. You may have a similar morning starter. What you don’t want to do is rely on sugary and artificial snacks all day.
Feeling snacky? Reach for a tangerine or an apple. If you feel that afternoon slump coming on, keep a bag of peanuts or trail mix handy.
And don’t forget to have plenty of water throughout the day. That afternoon crash may be dehydration.
Tip 6: Find your daily win
You have company and personal goals, but those are often long-term goals. You can easily get discouraged when a project remains unfinished or when a new obstacle appears.
Taking a few minutes at the end of your day to review what you accomplished is key. A daily win will build your confidence and belief that you’re moving forward and getting closer to your goals.
I’m big on notebooks and using pen and paper to take notes. When I reach the end of my day, I reach for that notebook and write down my win for the day. Sometimes, this is completing a top priority. Other days it’s just crossing out one step of a major project. And sometimes it’s just clearing out my email inbox.
Tip 7: Try a digital detox on weekends
Okay, this is the hardest of the tips. Most of these, you can adopt for your daily routine with just a little effort. But deciding that you won’t use your devices over the weekend, that’s a tough one even for the most dedicated.
Tough, but not impossible. Start small.
As a one-person business, I initially took the approach that I was always on and available. That is no longer the case. I do not look at business emails after about noon on Friday.
I scan emails in the morning Saturday and Sunday to delete junk, read a newsletter, and look for the occasional email alerting me that my daughter’s swimming lesson is canceled.
Some Sundays, not all, I leave the phone in the bedroom while I spend the day with the family in the living room watching movies. It’s a blissful day without email, social media, and that bright light shining on your face like when kids tell scary stories in TV shows.
Last Words
Working isn’t always fun, that’s why it’s called work. But there are things you can do to keep it from overwhelming you and eventually burning you out. Review these tips and if any of them call out to you, consider experimenting with them for a few weeks. You never know, one of these tips may become the habit that prolongs your happiness.
And if the thing that is overwhelming you is your company’s marketing, we can help with that. Contact us today to set up an introductory call. We’ll chat about your situation and determine if we’re the right fit for your content marketing needs.