When you are self-employed Business Health and taking care of your own health is pivotal to the success of your business.

People say one of the hardest things you can do is run your own business. Well, from my experience it is also one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever done. Yes, I can agree it can be hard, but only sometimes.

Going it alone is a choice

Being self-employed was my choice, as it probably is yours, and for me making the decision to go alone was one of the best thing I ever did. The burning ambition to be my own boss simply would not go away, even though this was a high-risk move to make.

One of the things I learned was there was a need for continuous improvement. Making consistent improvements to enhance the business was critical toward its success and sustainability. So knowing this, I thought it was also common to understand that you needed to also look after yourself – as in YOU are the business.

Yet so many times when speaking to other business owners I would find they forgot that this important fact. That YOU need to look after yourself. Success basically is dependent on the strength of a person’s state of mind and your ability turn up for work, come what may. Anyone who is self-employed has to work incredibly hard, constantly learn and adapt and manage challenges on their own.

Over the years I have employed the use of valuable tools that have allowed me to develop a mindset that enables me to look at issues in different ways. Some include being mindful of what is happening in a point in time and working out what you can do right now to support yourself. So basically paying attention to when you are feeling low is critical to the long-term health of not only you but your business as well.

Earlier this year I spoke at a safety conference, and aligning with World Mental health day they focused on mental health issues in the workforce. My presentation was about being mindful and expecting yourself and your team to stop and consider before instantly responding. I was pleased that my message was in synergy with the other speakers, we all shared a similar flow, yet from different angles. The reality is we, as business owners, are the business, and we matter.

My tips for you and your healthy business

Here are my tips on keeping you and your business thriving:

• Pay attention to what is happening for you. If you feel stressed or overwhelmed then take time away from your desk. The act of getting up and moving, changes your state, and allows you to think clearer.
• Neuroscience says that the act of walking promotes neural health and allows you to work through issues easier.
• Keep abreast of what is happening around you – Events and changes in the global landscape have an effect on your business. Stay current on trends and issues happening in your industry and local community.
• Have a daily meditation – even if it is stopping to smell the flowers for a couple of minutes a day.
• Believe in yourself and your ability.
• All humans need validation and a sense of belonging. Try to connect with real people in a face to face environment, as well as online.
• Build on your self-esteem and resilience so that when you are confronted by unexpected challenges they don’t seem so enormous
• Limit time on social media, so you can get the work done, and also so you stop comparing yourself to others. Others who often are putting up a happier/more successful/more something face then they actually are. The perfect lives shared online by beautiful people can trigger our emotions of fear, vulnerabilities and pain.
• Take a break. Sometimes the best way to improve your business and reignite your passion is to take a holiday. Don’t underestimate the potential value of spending some time away from your work.
• Keep going forward, consistency will win, and you will start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Remember; taking care of your own health is pivotal to your business.