There’s a difference between being “busy” and being “hurried” when you’re an entrepreneur. I know entrepreneurs who are never hurried though are always busy with a focus on projects to advance their business and aid their clients in achieving their respective goals.
What’s the secret to avoiding the “hurriedness” of being “busy?” Self Care. These entrepreneurs recognize the importance of nurturing themselves before nurturing their business or having contact with a client.
Most of us have been taught to manage our public world but our inner world is often cheated and ignored until burnout, breakdown, blow-up or giving up. When we run on empty (like working both day and late into the night or wee hours) finally we just don’t go anymore. Think of it like this, if the gas gauge is on empty eventually the engine will stop! If we don’t nurture ourselves eventually we don’t go either. There’s always balance between self care and self sacrifice. We may need to work late to finish up but be sure to take some extra time away from the business the next day or sleep in late.
Self care is monitored by our personality and will address the core values of our lives. It won’t look identical for every entrepreneur. While some may prefer exercising or jogging others may read, take a bubble bath, go shopping, enjoy a hobby, talk with a close friend or have a time of meditation to name just a few possibilities of self care in action. You will know what uniquely revives and energizes you.
The important thing to remember is to make that time for YOU so that you can give from a full tank. Did you know that YOU are the most valuable asset in your business? Self care is the insurance to protect your assets. Make the investment. You are definitely worth it! I’d love to hear some of the ways you recharge when the energy level is getting low.
Hi Ruth!
I couldn’t agree more! Over the course of my careers I have owned businesses, worked in the crazy event industry and worked on a contract basis and the hardest thing to manage was my personal care.
Over the years I have learned to guard my time and take care not to over extend my obligations…and it always works out win/win for everyone when I hold that line and honor my personal boundaries!
Thanks for your insight! True words of wisdom!
Anza
Absolutely true, Ruth!
How many small business owners do we know that burn the candle at both ends, just trying to get it all done? Being self-employed does not mean that you are the only one who can do it all. In fact, it shouldn’t mean that at all! You are in business to do what you specialize in; partner with a VA and delegate tasks that your VA specializes in. You ARE the most valuable asset in your business!
Valuable topic for virtual assistants, Ruth. I wrote a post about focus and the connection with pacing oneself at my blog, newly named Virtually @ Bar JD Virtual Professionals (http://www.barjdcommunications.com) plus sister blog Particulary Virtual and cousin blog Chips with trackbacks about the topic and the value of being a member of VAnetworking.com for comparison and information about developing this sort of self-discipline.
Lovely post and very true too!
For my own sanity, I’ve set up a boundary for when I can and cannot work. Because I have a young daughter, I won’t work weekends. That leaves time strictly for us when she’s not in school. Then I managed everything else around her school schedule and after she’s in bed.