How to practice self-care when starting a new business venture
When Julie, Lauren, and Emma created their gift company From today…, they had one goal in mind: to recognise and celebrate the small moments in life.
In this article, Lauren Grainger shares her tips for staying motivated and practising self-care when starting a new business venture.
Starting a new business can be an exciting time filled with opportunity. However, amidst the hustle and bustle of entrepreneurship, it’s easy to neglect the most important asset: yourself. Setting some time aside to take care of yourself can help you refresh your mind and body, so that you can stay happy and healthy while enjoying this significant journey.
At From today…, we’ve learned firsthand the importance of prioritising self-care through every stage in life. Although it’s easy to focus on the bigger task at hand, taking time to celebrate minor achievements and reconnect with ourselves is equally important.
Here are my tips for prioritising self-care while embarking on a new business venture.
Practice mindfulness during stressful times
When stressful moments arise, it can be tempting to jump right in to tackle the problem straight away. But often when we do this, we’re not approaching it as our best selves. During stressful periods, it’s important to take some time out to reset. Taking a few moments to recentre your mind can help you think problems through more clearly once you return to them.
Mindfulness is a form of meditation that aims to bring you into the present moment, so you can establish better mental clarity. It’s the perfect way to refresh your mind and body during a busy day, especially when your thoughts start to race and you begin to get ahead of yourself. The best thing about mindfulness is that it doesn’t take long to do, so you can get back to the task at hand.
Whenever you start to feel overwhelmed at work, this is your sign to take a step back and a few deep breaths, or to have a moment of quiet reflection to ground yourself. It might help to walk away from your work to give your mind a short break, whether you go into another room or pop out to the garden. Surrounding yourself with soothing scents like bergamot and sandalwood can also help create a more relaxing atmosphere.
Nurture your support network
The people around you can be a massive support during high-pressure moments. Whether it’s friends, family, mentors, or fellow entrepreneurs, your support network can lend a listening ear during both the highs and lows of your journey. Emotionally, a support network offers a safe space to share fears, doubts, and frustrations, as well as share your successes.
Having a strong support system can also help establish accountability and keep you feeling motivated. By sharing your goals, plans, and progress with trusted individuals in your network, you create a sense of responsibility and commitment to follow through on your intentions.
Fostering these supportive relationships doesn’t have to be time-consuming either. A quick text or five-minute phone call is often all you need to feel supported during the day, but scheduling some time to grab a coffee or chat over dinner can give you a mindfulness break as well as an opportunity to reconnect with loved ones.
Remember to celebrate the little wins
When working on anything you’re passionate about, it’s easy to focus on the end goal rather than the journey. But celebrating little wins is essential for staying motivated, boosting morale, and keeping a positive mindset.
Take the time to acknowledge the smaller milestones along the way, whether it’s achieving your first sale, launching a new product or service, or hiring your first member of staff, these little wins are the foundation of your future growth.
No matter how small these feats are, be sure to take the time to reflect on your progress and thank yourself and your team (if you have one) for all the hard work. Consider celebrating these occasions by organising a team lunch or dinner or treating team members to small tokens of appreciation. Even if you’re working alone, gifting yourself something is a great act of self-care.
Little gifts like candles or a luxuriously scented hand cream can feel like a real treat and are great for encouraging some relaxation as you continue your business journey.
Prioritising self-care while starting out on a new business venture can help you achieve both personal and professional success and fulfilment. By staying grounded when times get tough, nurturing a good support network, and celebrating the small milestones, you can make the most of your entrepreneurial journey. For even more advice, take a look at the business and wellbeing articles at Talented Ladies Club.
Author: Lauren Grainger is a co-founder of From today….
