Self-care for Entrepreneurs

As nutrition entrepreneurs, we are all busy juggling our many hats. We are fierce and innovative, always thinking about our next step but sometimes we forget about ourselves. We preach health and wellness to others, and it is time to start practicing ourselves. Self-care goes beyond healthy eating and exercising; I am talking about stress management and self-preservation. I am going to ask two things of you and truly believe they will help you both in business and in your personal life.

First, I ask that you take five minutes every day for yourself. I mean a continuous five-minute block and I mean only you. This is your time to decompress. Maybe in those five minutes you make yourself that much-needed cup of coffee–and actually take the time to sip and enjoy it–or maybe engage in a quick meditation. If you think sticking to or remember to take this time will be a challenge, you can aim for the same time every day and set a timer. Debunking the idea that taking time for oneself is unjustified, Gandhi famously stated, “I have so much to do today, I will need to take twice as long to meditate.”

Second, I ask that you keep a pen and paper near you for one week and write down every time you feel stressed. Write down what caused the stress and rate it on a scale of 1-10. At the end of the week you can review your list and discover any patterns. Becoming mindful of these stress triggers might be enough to facilitate change in your business or personal life. Maybe not ending the day on time brings your frustration level to a 10 or maybe last minute cancelations are often a stress booster. Once identified, you can address these issues. Reviewing your business policies and procedures is always a good place to start. Are you happy with the parameters you set? If not, update them. Also, ask for help when needed. Many entrepreneurial ventures command skills that are out of our scope like web design or accounting. Find a friend, professional, or training class that can help you with your daunting tasks. It will save you hours of unnecessary frustration.

Just try out my tips for one week and see where they get you. Share your results with NE on our Facebook or Twitter.

Tip of the Month: August 2013

Debi Zvi RD, CDN
NE Incoming Mentor Program Coordinator