For home-based business owners, the distinctions between their drive to succeed and maintain their health begin to mix in a way that’s not possible or probable in more traditional office settings. While their work flexibility provides them a level of independence, it’s easy for them to lose track of things and experience burnout.
This condition is characterized by feelings of exhaustion, cynicism, and decreased efficacy that’s as destructive to their business as it is to their health. Thankfully, burnout is not inevitable. Here are a few mental health habits that can help you maintain your energy level while preserving your passion for your work.
Establish Non-Negotiable Boundaries Between Work and Rest
Creating and maintaining boundaries between work and personal life is the first habit every home-based business person must develop. When your office is your bedroom hallway or your kitchen table, things are naturally going to get complicated. Your mind is never “clocking out”, as you see your office 24/7. The temptation to just finish one more thing is real, and often too strong when you’re your own boss.
A lack of boundaries means your nervous system is always on alert, causing you to experience high levels of stress hormones. This disrupts your sleep, keeping you from getting the real rest your body needs. This constant low-grade stress can build over weeks and months to the point of exhaustion that no weekend can repair. It’s at this point that burnout happens. This is not because of periods of intense work activity, but rather because you’re never really off duty.
To fix these issues, you need to learn to develop mental boundaries. Many home-based business owners greatly benefit from seeking guidance on this topic. Mental health speakers in Sydney, or anywhere else in the world for that matter, have done some great work on this subject to help small business owners. You can connect with them and learn why establishing boundaries isn’t being selfish, but it’s vital to develop a framework for sustainable success.
Build a Structured Daily Routine
Another important mental health habits involve creating a systematic daily routine incorporating exercise, healthy eating, and human interaction. By not paying attention to those three elements, you create an ideal environment for burnout. Your body gets exhausted and emotions become erratic, making a minor setback seem catastrophic. Here’s what to remember to keep things under control:
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Morning Movement Session:
Start your day with at least 20 to 30 minutes of movement before your work routine begins. This is meant to activate your nervous system and help you get ready for the day.
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Regular Meal Times:
Start eating breakfast, lunch, and a snack at regular times every day. Whenever possible, eat away from your workspace.
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Breaks with Movement:
After every 90 minutes of focused effort, take a 10 to 15 minute break with activity. You can simply walk inside your home or stretch.
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Organized Social Interaction:
Be sure to have at least one interaction per day. You could call a friend, work with another entrepreneur for a bit, or have a coffee meeting with someone. This may seem like stealing time away from work, but it goes a long way in preventing isolation that contributes to burnout.
Practice Regular Emotional Check-Ins
Another important mental health habit to develop is to practice emotional check-ins with yourself and have varied means of connections with mentors or peers to process challenges before they turn into real burnout.
Emotional check-ins can be simple yet profoundly powerful. Every week, take 15 minutes to check in with your emotional state. Just take note without judgment. This is one way to recognize patterns and catch potential issues before they worsen.
Other than self-check-ins, leverage support. This could be in the form of finding a mastermind among other entrepreneurs to talk to. It could also be talking to a mentor who understands your niche. For others, it means working with a therapist or coach who can help them develop resilience and work through the stresses associated with small business ownership.
Endnote
These three practices form a coordinated mechanism to support your mental health. Together, they help develop resilience to deal with the stressors of entrepreneurship. For home business owners, it’s not always easy to follow these practices, but you must give your best considering they play a role in keeping you healthy and helping your business succeed.
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