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Wellness Practices for Entrepreneurs
Kat Sanford | Soulful Business Strategist
Last week I kicked off a 5-part series CULTIVATING ABUNDANCE IN YOUR LIFE by sharing ideas on how to create abundance in the 5 life areas and concepts based on the best-selling book and course, The Desire Map, written and created by Danielle LaPorte.
This week the conversation continues with a focus on the BODY + WELLNESS life area, why this is important for entrepreneurs and a few ideas to support you in your wellness journey.
Yours truly rafting the Rogue River in Oregon.
WHAT IS BODY + WELLNESS?
According to The Desire Map, the BODY + WELLNESS life area relates to
Fitness
Food
Rest + Relaxation
Healing
Mental Health
Sex + Sensuality
Discovering how you want to feel mentally, physically and emotionally. Then putting practices in place to support you in these areas.
Why is this important? If you are a solo entrepreneur or even the leader of a small team, maintaining your health is super important. There is no paid sick leave and many times customer service, marketing, sales and operations ALL depend on you showing up with energy, focus and confidence. Putting in the time for your personal wellness is equally as important as making the next sales call or responding to a client.
Being an entrepreneur is similar to being a long-distance runner. We can go the distance if we have trained and prepared to make it up the peaks and back down again. I love this quote I found recently when researching the mind-body connection that says it well.
“...Phases of low productivity go hand in hand with poor diet, lack of sleep, inappropriate work environments, stress, poor use of time, a racing mind, or a fragmented focus. However, unlike serious athletes, entrepreneurs ignore symptoms and don't dedicate the time to proactively train their bodies and minds for success.” Lori Webb, Forbes.com
As a Soulful Business Strategist I help women entrepreneurs position themselves and their brands in ways that feel in alignment with their values so they can attract their ideal clients and increase their profits while still having time for the things that matter the most.
Often when I start working with a client they feel tired, overworked and undervalued. I hear things like “I’m exhausted” or “I am tired of hustling“ or “I have no free time“. This breaks my heart because one of the benefits of being an entrepreneur is the freedom to control your own schedule. I certainly didn’t start a business to work 60+ hours a week.
In my own life I have struggled in this life area and it has affected my business. I have experienced times when my mind was fuzzy from lack of sleep. I have even had days where I had to reschedule meetings and take a nap because my energy level was so low. This is why I am passionate about sharing the tips below to help you avoid burnout and exhaustion.
“Joy is the deepest indicator of deep wellness.” - Danielle Laporte
6 Wellness Tips
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional or fitness expert. These tips are based on activities I personally do to feel healthy and well.
Fitness. Love Your Body. Give gratitude to your body by doing a head-to-toe body scan and saying THANK YOU to each part of your body. I am a BIG fan of Mel Robbins and love The High Five Habit concept of looking in the mirror and giving yourself a High 5 hand slap. Do at least moderate exercise each day. Take a hike. Walk the dog.
Food. Fuel Your Body. Limit the amount of salt, sugar, caffeine and alcohol in your diet. Drink plenty of clean, pure water each day. This will breathe new life into your skin, hair and will nourish all of your vital organs.
Rest + Relaxation. Learn to listen to your body. Your mind, heart and muscles will all tell you when you need extra sleep. Bubble baths, naps, going to bed early and sleeping late are all 100% okay. Breathing techniques, journaling, listening to music and spa treatments are also great ways to relax. Take a Digital Detox. The convenience that cell phones have added to our lives can actually be a double-edged sword. We depend on them so much it seems we can’t live without them. Our minds are constantly filled with news, social media, emails, etc. that it is nearly impossible for us to settle. Put your phone down at least 30 minutes before bed. Create a phone free zone. Unplug from technology (yes your email will still be there later). Read a book, take a walk in nature or play a board game with your family and friends.
Healing. Do you have emotional and/or mental wounds that need to be healed so you can move forward? Some people benefit from art therapy, journaling, meditation, music therapy, EFT, Reiki and other modalities of treatment. Whether you use a self-guided tool or work with a therapist learning to identify and release past traumas can be very beneficial to our emotional health.
Mental Health. Be intentional about fostering a healthy mindset. Block out time for meditation and/or prayer. Read books, listen to audiobooks or watch videos on emotional intelligence, leadership and mindset. Take time to journal. Follow trusted experts but be mindful of what you think, read, watch and listen to and when. Learn to set boundaries and say no. Avoid comparing yourself to other people. (Know that feeling "blah" is normal sometimes but please seek help if you suffer from long-term depression and thoughts of suicide.)
Sex + Sensuality. S