Being a business owner is one of the most extraordinary things in the world – in my completely biased opinion, of course. There are accomplishments, awards, achievements, profit, and relationships that can come out of being your own boss, but also hardship, frustration, loneliness, and anxiety.

Business ownership and entrepreneurship aren’t something that should be taken lightly. 

We live in a society where we are pushed to our breaking point, and relaxation is viewed as a weakness. Unfortunately, this mindset infiltrates our everyday lives, including our business lives. 

This can cause burnout, anxiety, and just overall stress. 

I don’t want that for you, friend.

I want you to be in your flow state, where you feel productive and confident AF that you are doing the best thing for your business. 

My top advice for achieving that? Stay mindful.

Here are the ways I am staying mindful in my business. 

Take more breaks.

Your mind needs time to breathe to stay sharp. It’s like a muscle: it can become strained and fatigued if you don’t give it a rest every now and again. So try taking an hour’s break from work each day, even if it’s just for a couple of minutes. Move around, stretch your legs, walk outside and get some fresh air! These small breaks can help boost your creativity, improve productivity, and even increase efficiency.

Whether you take five-minute mindfulness breaks or one weeklong vacation every year, both will be beneficial for your health and your business. But remember that sometimes the best way to get things done is to step away from them for a while—your body will thank you later!

Schedule a nothing day

Likewise, it’s essential to take a day off from work. Don’t feel bad about it! Instead, schedule a nothing day, spend it with family or friends, take a day trip to a local attraction, catch up on sleep, or do nothing at all.

I am not going to lie to you and say this is easy- because it certainly isn’t. There are ALWAYS things that need to be done as a business owner. We are constantly fighting a mile-long to-do list. But here’s the truth. You’ll never be entirely caught up! It’s important to realize that you are only one entity. For your business to function correctly, you need to be well-rested and have your mind relaxed and focused. 

Take a lunch break

Take a lunch break. I repeat this because it is SO important. 

A big part of the business world is interacting with others. But many people forget that it’s just as important to interact with themselves, especially their own minds. To reconnect with yourself during the workday, take a lunch break. Eating by yourself may not sound exciting, but there are many ways to make it meaningful: try eating outside, listening to music, or reading a book that doesn’t relate to your profession. When you self-reflect in this way, you give your mind time to refresh itself and come back ready for work. You also keep yourself from getting frazzled, which is easy to feel when you don’t take the time for self-care during your working hours. 

If someone in a corporate job can take a 30-minute lunch break- so can you. 

Actually, you can do whatever you want. You’re the business owner. 

Stretch.

I’m talking mind & body here.

Sitting in a chair does some severe harm to your back & spine, and it’s important to remember that we need to get up and move once in a while. 

You need to stretch—and not just the muscles in your body, but the muscles in your mind. So before you begin your morning meditation, take time to stretch, allowing blood to flow throughout your entire body. If you have difficulty remembering to stretch before meditating, set the alarm for 20 minutes earlier than usual and begin stretching as soon as you wake up. Taking 10–15 minutes every morning and evening will allow your body and mind to recover from the day’s stress (or night).

This is a big one for me. I have always been an athletic gal, but stretching and yoga were the last things on my mind after a long day or strength training workout, and it came back to bite me. I work with a chiropractor now who is constantly reminding me of the importance of mobility and stretching. 

Set work hours

Just because you don’t have a time clock at home like you would at an office doesn’t mean you are always on the clock!!

One of the crucial aspects of working mindfully is setting work hours and sticking to them. This is important for a couple reasons. First, it allows you to have boundaries between your personal life and your work life, so you can focus on one or the other depending on what time it is.

 If you don’t set clear boundaries, it’s easy for your brain to keep thinking about business, even when spending time with friends and family. Setting boundaries also lets people in your life know when they can expect you to be available; this prevents confusion if they try calling or texting you outside of your working hours.

Work hours aren’t simply about knowing when to turn off your computer—it’s also about knowing how long each day should be dedicated to working. Studies have shown that more productive people put in fewer hours than their peers, so think carefully about how many hours per day will allow you to get everything done without stressing yourself out or cutting into too much personal time.

For me? I have it right in my contracts that my work hours are precise. I can be contacted outside of those hours- but you bet I won’t respond to the email until I am “clocked back in.”

Get outside more.

Get outside more. This is another one I’m repeating.

Now, I get it. Sometimes the weather is horrible–I mean, I live in Northern Michigan, so we see the sun like ten times a year during the summer–and you will not catch me outside when it’s negative temps. No thanks. 

But we as humans need fresh air. We’re not meant to be cooped up all day; we just aren’t! So get outside, breathe the air, stretch your legs, and interact with people–it’ll help clear your head!

• Put the blanket at the beach or the grass in the park to better use: lay down and look at the clouds. It’s easy for entrepreneurs to forget there is a world outside of their business, but getting away from the computer and cell phone screens can clear your mind and help you relax.
• Take a walk around the block! Exposure to nature reduces stress, increases happiness, and even boosts creativity.

It’s also essential to get some vitamin D, so enjoy that sunlight whenever possible. (Or, if you’re like me, take a vitamin D supplement during the winter months.)

Stay hydrated.

As a general rule of thumb, you should aim to drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day. So, for example, if you weigh 200 pounds, you need 100 ounces of water. 

Drinking the right amount of water is crucial to staying healthy; it lubricates the joints, keeps our skin looking fresh and glowing, and regulates our body temperature. 

It can also help curb those headaches you can get after having 10 hours of screen time the day before for work or curb the afternoon slump when you get exhausted around 2 PM. 

Find a hobby that centers you, such as painting or gardening. Don’t monetize it.

I cannot stress this enough. FIND A HOBBY & DO NOT MONETIZE IT.

I love designing–and I choose to monetize that hobby. However, I also love photography & painting. Still, neither of those things will I ever choose (at least currently) to charge someone for. I need something in my life that is just for me and the space inside my head.

Finding an activity that helps you relax, whether painting, biking, or gardening, is the first step to centering yourself. It doesn’t matter what the hobby is—the point is to find something that allows you to focus on yourself and put your mind at ease for a little while.

Remember that this activity is supposed to bring you peace and balance out work stress. If you’re spending all of your time working on yet another project so that you can make money off of it, then it’s no longer doing its job as a source of escapism.

Let’s review:

There you have it. These are my eight steps to help you stay mindful in your business. If you have any other ones, shoot me a DM or comment on this post. I would love to hear more!

xoxo Claire

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