– BY MADDIE CRAIG | 2023
As entrepreneurs, we carry an avalanche of responsibilities on our shoulders daily.
Vision-casting, problem-solving, client care, team support - the endless checklists rush by in a blur. It's easy to forget that none of those people or priorities we serve can thrive long if our own internal battery dies out.
Without intentional self-care, burnout lurks right around the corner ready to zap our energy, health, and happiness.
The toll emerges slowly through compounding stress, shortened fuses, disconnection from loved ones, and subsisting on caffeine and willpower fumes. Then one day an avalanche of exhaustion buries our fire entirely.
Embracing regular self-care isn't a selfish choice or waste of productivity. Guarding your mental, emotional, and physical health proactively benefits your entire team and clients.
Refueling Your Ability to Lead
Consider specifically carving out time on a regular basis to devote to self-care. Find hobbies or things that give you a sense of purpose, calm, or relaxation.
Establish a routine and be intentional about proactively taking care of yourself and recognizing when you need to take a step back in order to move forward.
Set an Example For Your Team
Striving for success at the expense of everything else sets a domino path for team burnout. Ask yourself this, would you expect them to maintain the sometimes crazy levels of work you often expect of yourself as a business owner?
Even if you wouldn’t, your team sees more than you may realize. They take example from your lead, and also see when you may be on a shorter fuse.
Demonstrating sustainable self-care practices gives those around you permission to seek support before hitting burnout too.
Openly discussing mental health days, scheduling focused free time, and modeling healthy work-life integration encourages others to do the same. When you walk the walk on prioritizing wellness, your team knows that their needs matter too.
Likewise, showing your human side through transparency about ups and downs makes you far more relatable.
Letting people see you take self-care breaks enhances approachability and connection.
Prioritizing self-care as an entrepreneur isn't a luxury; it's a strategic necessity.
By making sure you recharge and showing your team that it's okay to do the same, you're not only looking out for yourself but also creating a healthy and successful work environment.
Meet The Author
Maddie Craig is the founder of Blue Cypher Bookkeeping, a detail-oriented bookkeeper, and definitely a “numbers nerd”! She is passionate about helping organizations understand the full story of their financials and using it to make more confident decisions and grow strategically. She has experience working with a wide array of clients, including small businesses and non-profit organizations. When not crunching numbers, she and her husband enjoy traveling, being active in the community, and sharing their love for good food with friends and family.