Is self-care a priority for you at the moment? Have you reviewed your health and wellbeing lately?
The news is full of negativity these days which can be difficult to avoid. Combined with any mental or physical health issues you may struggle with, it can all feel incredibly overwhelming at times.
If you’re a regular visitor to the Woman Who Community you will have seen me share lots of messages on my social media posts about taking time out occasionally. I need that time out to allow my brain to rest, reflect, and have the space to innovate.
Many of the women in business I speak with try to put all their energy into running their business, but family, health, and self-care also need to take priority.
I’ve made no secret of the fact that over the last twelve months I’ve struggled with being a full-time carer for my 91-year-old mum, finding and moving her into the right care home, selling her home, and moving. It’s been exhausting!
Ensuring good health and positive wellbeing is high on my list and keeps me focused. If I’m broken I can’t help anyone else! What is it they say? “Put on your own oxygen mask first, so you can help others.”
Why is self-care so important?
Work-related worry and stress can impact our personal and professional lives. How you work, and even where you work have changed dramatically in recent years.
The world stopped for a time and many of us recognised the importance of good health and a balanced life. Work may have taken a back seat, or the restrictions might have inspired a new direction or drastic change.
Since getting back out there, many people have forgotten how to slow down. Those carefully crafted self-care routines have been all but forgotten. Can you relate to that?
Have your boundaries started to blur again? Are you checking emails at night or over the weekend? Do you put everyone else first?
Don’t risk your health. Prioritise your wellbeing and learn to unplug occasionally.
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”Anne Lamott
What changes can you make to ensure your health and wellbeing is a priority?
There are many things you can do to focus on self-care. You will have heard me talk about the importance of sleep many times as this, for me, is essential, I know I need a good 8 hours every night, but what else can you turn your attention to?
- Build positive habits – many of us started our businesses to fit around our family, so why are we letting emails, meetings, and social media take us away from what we want? Establish a routine that fits around the life you crave. Set boundaries with your hours and turn your phone off once you’re off the clock. Make it clear on your website or social platforms how your clients can connect and when.
- Explore personal development – we all want to learn so that we can grow our business, but what about the opportunities to develop on a personal level? Reading thought-provoking books and learning new skills outside of the working environment keeps your brain young. Finding ways to inspire, motivate, and entertain yourself is a worthwhile pursuit for your self-care.
- Promote wellbeing throughout the year – reviewing your health isn’t something to think about after Christmas ready for a New Year! Your health and wellbeing need to be a priority all year long. Manage your workload so you can fit in that all-important time out, connect with like-minded people, and ask for help when you need it.
Don’t forget the basics of self-care
Everyone needs to build positive habits, encourage personal development, and look after themselves all year, but what can we do every single day to help ourselves?
Here’s a handy self-care checklist you can follow:
- Get enough sleep
- Drink plenty of water
- Eat a healthy and varied diet
- Learn to say no
- Move more – get outside as often as you can
- Connect with friends or family
- Find a hobby/activity you love (for me it’s going to watch football!)
- Do something you enjoy every day
- Write a gratitude journal
Do you do any of these things already? What would you add to the list?
Here at Woman Who we make sure self-care, wellbeing, and good health is never overlooked, and would love to hear your stories too. Why not join us at our November networking event (link below).
The Woman Who Achieves Academy and larger network community is built on the foundations of networking, learning, inspiring, and celebrating women in business. Health, Wellbeing and Self-Care is one of the many themes we cover to help our members build stronger businesses.
November Woman Who Inspires Online Network Event
Each month Woman Who hosts the Woman Who Inspires Online Network, and tickets to our November event are now live. If you want to join us in person, we are in Sheffield too later this month.
With Woman Who events, there will be networking, inspirational speakers, and learning with this month’s theme, Health, Wellbeing & Self-Care.
In business, we need to network to increase our contacts and our pipeline of work for the future. Whether you network online or in person, you’ll be able to share your networking tips and learn new ones.
Book your ticket HERE
Do you want to be part of the Woman Who Community? The Woman Who Achieves Academy is a fast-track environment of learning and support to help you power up your personal brand and get visible.
There are three levels of subscription:
- Academy Lite– for women in business who are just starting out on their journey and not quite ready, or unable to devote the time just yet. This level provides all the learning, networking in the Facebook Group, a Directory entry, and an opportunity to record a Woman Who Chat podcast.
- Academy Gold– for women in business who are ready to power up their personal brand and get visible through the opportunities created. You receive everything in Lite plus incredible opportunities to speak at Woman Who Events, and to share your story on stage, in print, and in other media.
- Academy Platinum– for women in business who want to accelerate their business growth and visibility through public speaking. You receive everything in Gold, plus a dedicated Platinum Facebook Group, a monthly Mastermind, additional opportunities, and an opportunity to share your expertise with the Woman Who audience.
“Joining The Woman Who Achieves Academy has been, by far, the best business decision I made for a very long time! The Academy is home to a motivated group of businesswomen, ready to support each other, who bring their particular skills and knowledge to the group for the benefit of the community. Sandra is everything you’d expect: a wonderful business role model for us all, and a genuinely caring and warm human being, who shares her knowledge and ideas for our betterment. In short, The Woman Who Achieves Academy is a safe place for the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and even problems, and it also has a social aspect which is much needed right now, in the Autumn of 2020! I’d wholeheartedly recommend you join us!”Andrea de Gabriel
Delivered in partnership with Alsters Kelley Solicitors