Invest in Your Number One Asset

Entrepreneurs are famous for working long hours, often sacrificing time with family or time to take care of themselves. The thrill of getting a dream business off the ground and growing it into a profitable enterprise can be addictive. But in the process, small business owners often fail to take good care of the business’s number one asset: themselves.

A healthy, rested, energetic you will accomplish more in less time. If you’re in top shape, you’ll be better able to take care of your clients and your business. So resolve this year to take excellent care of you—your business’s most valuable resource. What you invest in yourself will yield a great return.

Ten Easy Self Care Tips:

1. Commit to regular exercise. Studies show that exercise reduces fatigue and benefits your brain as well as your body. Go for walks in the park, play a game of racquetball, swim laps or spend a day on the slopes—whatever works well for you.

2. Maintain a healthy diet. Enjoy balanced, wholesome meals eaten slowly in a relaxed setting, rather than while driving in traffic, standing in the kitchen or sitting hunched over a computer.

3. Get ample rest and sleep. Staying up late will gain you more work hours, but you’ll suffer from reduced productivity and be more susceptible to illness. Stopping work to slow down and unwind before bedtime can result in quality sleep.

4. Plan time off. Take mini vacations—long weekends away, days or afternoons off—just to relax and have fun. Write them on the calendar now. Carve out “me” time to just be—to think, journal, play or just daydream. Include time for spiritual activities too.

5. Take time to nurture the special relationships in your life. Go out on a date, enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend, write a note to someone telling him or her how much you care, call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while.

6. Stay Positive. Take an Inventory of Your Thoughts and Feelings. How’s your self-talk? Is what you’re telling yourself kind and uplifting?

7. Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments and the good things in your life. Think about and make a list of everything you are grateful for.

8. Let go of negative feelings and any unforgiveness. Remember, problems are opportunities in disguise.

9. Review your vision often. Spend some time looking at where you want to be. Put up a picture of what it will look like. Review and maybe amend your life vision.

10. Hire a coach or join an Advisory Board to get the support, encouragement, honest feedback and fresh perspectives we all need.

In addition, find ways to inject fun and laughter into everyday life.
Resolve to invest wisely in your number one asset this year, take good care of yourself, and you’ll be well rewarded with an excellent return.