Starting a small business can be a really challenging experience. Those early start up stages can be filled with many highs and lows. I am now over 10 years into my business and happy to say it’s now stable. But the start up stage lasted almost 4 years and it was often tough.
One important thing I have learned is the importance of looking after my own emotional wellbeing. Because there’s not much point in presenting myself with a sour look on my face, or seeming worn out and tired. I’m definitely not going to attract clients that way.
I was out the other morning for my daily brisk walk and as usual I passed a number of four legged friends out taking their owners for a walk. It feels so good when I see these little fury friends. They always look happy and greet me with enthusiasm. Of course, I say hello to them or give them a pat. Their owners then give me a smile and say hello too.
And it’s the same with humans. It’s easy for someone to chat and say hello to us if we look happy to see them. And we don’t have to wag our tail to do it.
People are attracted to people they like. And we all know how good it feels to be around happy enthusiastic people don’t we.
When we look after our emotional wellbeing it will help us build a successful small business.
This is because we will present as happy and positive. And of course, people will be more attracted to us.
Friends, clients and colleagues often comment that I smile a lot and look happy. This comes with practice and looking after my own emotional wellbeing. It has helped me stay sane during the most challenging times.
I have a regular personal self care practice that helps me care for my own wellbeing. This varies daily depending on my work hours because I work with people all over the globe. But I have a general framework that helps me care for me.
Possibly you can take something from it that may work for you, maybe not. But at the end of the day regular self-care is a key foundation to creating a business you love.
Begin each day with a presence practice
What suits one person is not necessarily what suits another. It’s important that you find a presence practice that works for you. Examples are meditation, Yoga, TaiChi, Qigong. The alignment of mind and body is the commonalty between all of these practices. This reduces stress, improves clarity and sense of wellbeing.
Some people love meditation, but for many of us it’s difficult to focus the mind just sitting. When combined with movement, as with yoga for instance, it becomes much easier. It’s about finding what’s right for you and making time for it. If you feel like you don’t have time, get up earlier.
Moving your body daily builds a sense of wellbeing
Exercise gives you a natural high because it releases endorphins and feel good hormones like serotonin and dopamine into your blood stream. When you do this every morning if possible, you can start your day in a great mood.
This doesn’t have to be intense cardio exercise if that’s not your thing. Even a brisk walk will give you the benefits. Personally I begin with a yoga flow at home, then I go out for a brisk walk. A couple of days a week I add weights at the gym too for strength and bone health.
A healthy diet improves clarity and focus
It’s difficult to be at our best when we have a diet high in processed food, sugars and stimulants. This is because they elevate our state unnaturally which doesn’t last. On the other hand a healthy diet contains all the nutrients we need for optimum performance.
Reaching for something processed or sugary when we’re flagging can feel real easy. Yes, it can give us a shot of energy initially, but it’s not sustainable. And it can become addictive. Regularly eating this way eventually depletes our energy when we need it the most.
There is an intricate balance between the body, mind and emotions. This means what we put in our body affects the way we think and also how we feel. And what we think affects the way we feel and our overall physical health.
Starting the day with a healthy fresh and wholesome breakfast is a great start. And refrain from those highly processed snacks, sugars and stimulants during the day. This is a blanket statement that benefits everyone, even though we are all unique.
Focusing on the great things uplifts your state and helps build your small business
Part of being in small business is finding a way overcome the inevitable hurdles. Many people focus on those hurdles and talk about them a lot. To be honest I can do this myself if I don’t bring my conscious awareness to it.
If you focus on the hurdles, it impacts your emotional state negatively. You might feel frustrated or annoyed and this reflects in your behaviour.
When you turn it around and focus majorly on the great things and the achievements, your emotional state becomes more uplifted. You can do this too by looking for the gifts and learning in the hurdles. This changes your body language and affects how others relate to you.
So make a point of regularly focusing on your achievements and the highlights of your week. Look for the gift or learning in the challenges when they arise. Maybe even have a space in your diary where you can reflect on this.
Look, at the end of the day, we are in business to fulfil our vision and succeed at what we are doing. Much of that is changing and improving ourselves so we can achieve what we want. Always remember that people are attracted to others who feel good to be around. And when you look after your own emotional wellbeing, there is far more possibility you will be one of those individuals.
Looking after your own wellbeing can be a challenge, especially with the changing economy. There’s a natural tendency to work all hours, with the old mindset that if you work more hours it brings success. This behaviour leads to burnout and I have personally increased my business turnover by working less hours. But I know it takes changing your mindset. Working with an experienced good coach can help you bring balance back into your life, which in turn helps you build a successful business while having a life. If you would like to see how coaching can help you in your business, you are welcome to book an initial connect call HERE.