As your fitness and wellness-based business grows, learning how to find balance is more important than ever.
Maybe you’ve been an independent entrepreneur for years, or maybe you’re just making the transition from full-time employee to full-time business owner.
Whatever the case, finding ways to cultivate balance in your life is much more important for you than for the average entrepreneur.
After all, how can you help your clients eliminate stress and live their best lives if you’re constantly on the verge of burnout?
When you work for yourself and do something you’re passionate about, it can be tempting to work 10, 12, even 16 hours a day!
But without finding a balance between work, play, fitness, and mental well-being, your business is sure to suffer (not to mention your health).
Here’s how to find balance while running a thriving coaching/training business:
Take Lots of Breaks
Did you know your brain needs a break every two hours? It’s true!
Taking ample breaks throughout the day is one of my biggest challenges. When I start a project, I like to finish it all at once.
The problem with this is that my brain gets foggy, I forget to eat, and my balance gets thrown entirely out of whack.
Take care to step away from whatever you’re doing at least every two hours – take a walk, meditate, grab a healthy snack, or have a dance party in your living room. Give yourself at least 15 minutes to regroup before diving back in.
Schedule Social Time
Take advantage of being in ‘work mode’ by scheduling social events into your calendar, just as you would a business meeting.
Even if you’re swamped, force yourself to take time out at least once per week to grab lunch with a friend, see a movie, attend a party, or volunteer for a cause you care about.
Pursue Hobbies
When considering how to find balance, one of the best things I can suggest is pursuing a hobby that has nothing to do with your business.
Some of my favorites include: art class, golf, roller skating, improv class, horseback riding, and looking at the stars through a telescope.
Hobbies allow your brain to flex muscles not normally used during the workday.
Hobbies also help you to refresh the mind, develop new perspectives, and see work problems in a completely different light.
Treat Yourself
What do you consider extravagant? Luxurious? Frivolous?
It doesn’t have to be something expensive. Maybe you tend to skip the organic produce because it’s a little pricier than non-organic, or perhaps you brew coffee at home because you feel Starbucks is overpriced.
This week, indulge your senses and cultivate balance by treating yourself to something small and decadent.
My treat?
A dessert made with real cream – not Cool Whip, not the stuff in the can, real cream that tastes so good I only indulge once in a blue moon. How luxurious!
Learn to Say “No”
You don’t have to take every client that approaches you. You don’t have to accept every dinner invitation that comes your way. You don’t have to say “yes” when you mean “no.”
If you’re a serial “yes” person, learning to say “no” can be one of your toughest lessons as an entrepreneur. But once you master this simple word, you will feel incredibly relieved and incredibly empowered.
Practice saying no when you mean no this week. If you’re not available for a phone call, just say no. If you disagree with a client or co-worker, just say no.
Being honest with yourself and with others is a wonderful way to cultivate balance because it affirms your deepest, truest self and keeps you connected to who you really are.
When you’re passionate about your work, it can consume your entire life. If you don’t learn how to find balance, however, your business will ultimately suffer.
Do at least one thing every day that makes you feel human. Then return to your work reinvigorated and ready to rock!
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