Do you put your own needs above those of your clients, family, or business? Most of you probably have the best intention to make your health and wellbeing a priority, but how many of you action this in your day-to-day lives?
If I don’t look after myself then I know I won’t be able to show up and support the wonderful ladies in the Woman Who Network. Self-care doesn’t have to be another task added to your already bursting to-do list. Instead, try thinking of your mental and physical health needs as a significant part of your day/week/month before you even start to review what you need to get done.
What is self-care?
According to the dictionary, self-care is the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health, and the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own wellbeing and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.
Reading this simple explanation shows us just how important health and wellbeing are in our lives. Running a business is hard work and I’m sure you will all agree that there are plenty of periods of stress. However, making your health and wellbeing a priority means you are better equipped to deal with anything your life or business throws at you.
What techniques can you use that fit into your already busy schedule?
Techniques to boost your health and wellbeing
Journaling – Member of the Woman Who Achieves Academy and founder of Growth Development Foundation, Angie Simmons, is an avid fan of using the written word to boost her health and wellbeing. You can read a wonderful interview with Angie here. You can never underestimate the benefits of jotting down a few sentences about how you feel, what you are grateful for, and monitoring your negative vs. positive inner chatter. Taking a couple of minutes at the start or end of your day to set up or reflect can help you stay more organised and mindful. Try adding journaling into your daily routine.
Inspirational stories – There is power in hearing how other like-minded women in business have overcome challenges and developed their personal and professional lives. Reading inspirational stories can be hugely motivating. We see so many people thriving in what they do, but often there will have been some trial they needed to overcome before moving to this place of success and achievement. Sharing their stories not only helps them move on but also inspires another generation of women in business. You can find a host of inspirational stories in our I Am a Woman Who book series available from our shop.
Be comfortable saying no – It can be one of the hardest things in the world to say no, but saying yes to everything means you no longer accept or honour your boundaries. When you work for yourself it can feel strange turning down invitations to events, saying no to a piece of work, or turning certain clients away. However, setting your intentions, values, and boundaries at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey is as vital to your health and wellbeing as your business targets. Working into the night or at weekends can be damaging to your mental and physical health. Make your self-care a priority from the start and get comfortable saying no to people.
Ask for help – Being part of a community gives you the opportunity to find help on any subject at any time. Equally important is sharing your expertise and helping others, which boosts your feel-good hormones. There is so much we can learn from one another, but only if we step into our vulnerability and ask for help when we need it. When was the last time you reached out to your network and asked for advice or assistance? Try it and see how many people step forward. The Woman Who Community is a bustling centre for guidance, support, and cheerleading and the perfect place to come when you need a lift.
Be curious and creative – As a woman in business, your thoughts may be consumed by the marketing, sales, accounting, social media management, or laws of running a business. While it’s admirable to keep up-to-date with the administration of your enterprise, it can become your sole interest. Try to remember that there is so much more to life than work. Stay curious and continue learning from your peers or external influencers. There are thousands of courses, workshops, webinars, and the like that will keep your brain active. Moving away from work, try and include something creative into your life. This might include art class, book club, dance lessons, wild swimming, or taking photographs on your daily walk.
Your health and wellbeing needs to be nurtured and these five techniques are a great place to start. Do you have a favourite technique that you would like to try out today?
What next?
Each month Woman Who hosts the Woman Who Inspires Online Network, and our next event is on Monday 7th February via Zoom.
As usual with Woman Who events, there will be networking, inspirational speakers, and learning with this month’s theme; Health and Wellbeing. Let’s make sure we all know how to add the best tools and techniques into our healthy toolkit.
Book your ticket HERE
Being part of a thriving membership or academy is the perfect way to nurture your self-care, and there is an entire community willing and able to help you find that work-life balance.
If you’re interested in joining the growing community of businesswomen, you can join here or find out more here.
“When I first came across Sandra and the Woman Who Achieves Academy at the start of 2020, I didn’t have a viable or profitable mentoring business.
The support I have gained from Sandra and the academy sisters has been invaluable. I have met so many inspiring women and the content Sandra has shared has enabled us all to grow together.
On a personal note, I’ve had the confidence to build a twelve-week program, build my brand, build my bio, and improve my keynote speech. I would highly recommend this group to any professional lady that wants to improve their business.” Angie Simmons, Growth Development Foundation