I find that many entrepreneurs and business owners don’t know how to nurture themselves while they are building and growing their business. There is a lot of striving and stress taking place, which is not only unhealthy, but produces diminishing returns in your business.

In fact, I discovered that when you make self-care, enjoyment of life and connection with Higher Power a priority, your business results are effortless.

Online marketing, making outreach calls and speaking with others about your work become joyful opportunities when you have cared for yourself and are connected to your Higher Power.

You have the direct experience (and deep knowingness) that it is not in the striving that makes things happen, but in the letting go!

Begin your day by connecting with your Higher Power through meditation. Ask your Higher Power what you need to release (fear, resistance, procrastination) and then ask specifically what you are needing that day. Higher Power shows up anytime you ask, so ask! You may need compelling words to write an article, intense focus, peace and quiet, right timing for dates or resolution with a difficult vendor.  Remember you can’t G-E-T if you don’t A-S-K.

2 Use a timer throughout the day as you go into each segment of what you intend to accomplish. Declare how much time you are going to spend on writing your article, making calls or any other actions that forwards your business. You will feel energized as you complete each task!

3 Step away for a time and give yourself some down time. This is where you just allow your mind to wander and relax. Give yourself this time to do nothing for a prescribed period of time (yes, really). This allows for creative ideas to flow and for you to connect with your brilliance. It also allows your brain to recharge.

4 Create some playtime! It’s important to have fun during the day.  Play a game, turn on some music for a dance break, toss around your animals’ favorite playtoy, make your kids laugh.  Whatever you do, find the fun and bring some levity to the day.

5 Connect with other people IRL (in real life) not just online. “When we take time to appreciate our connection to the natural world around us, we activate and reinforce the brain’s relational circuitry.†[1] So if you are an entrepreneur who works from home a lot, consider making lunch appointments (or meet a friend), get out of the house and take your work where there are others, like a lovely café or an office with like-minded people.

6 Exercise! When you move your body daily, you raise your serotonin levels.  This elevates your mood and has you feeling positive!

7 Sleep! Eight hours is the best. Sleep allows your brain  and adrenals the rest it needs. You also integrate learning and recover from experiences of the day. And yes, 20 minute power naps during the day is a brilliant thing to do!

I look forward to hearing how these daily practices nurture you and energize your productivity and inspire your success!

xo Rita

[1] “The Healthy Mind Platter†by Dr. Dan Siegel