guest post by Teresa Greenhill

Entrepreneurs face many challenges that others do not. We are responsible for not only ourselves but also our employees and, in some ways, their families, too. We often work ourselves to the point where we feel like work is a life sentence, and no amount of good behavior allows us any personal freedom.

It does not have to be this way.

As an entrepreneur, you have control over your working hours, and you must use your time and resources wisely. This means taking care of yourself both at work and at home. Today’s tips from Stairway to Leadership can help you take better care of yourself.

Self-Care and Therapy

First, it’s important to know that part of your self-care regimen might mean seeking therapy in your relationship, to help you lose weight or help change behaviors that are holding you back. The good news is you may be able to do so from the comfort of your home. With the advent of telehealth, you can take advantage of medical providers offering a range of online services that can help you do these things. By utilizing virtual visits, you can save time and money and get treatment on your own terms.

Work/Life Balance

It may sound cliché, but finding a balance between your work and your career is one of the best things you can do for yourself. A few simple actions to get you started here include reducing clutter (and therefore cleaning time) at home, hiring a virtual assistant, providing your body energy through natural light, and adding houseplants to improve your mood. You should also set a schedule and avoid working when you should be spending time with your family.

Another great way to save time is to hire freelancers to work remotely. Communicating with these individuals, however, can be a challenge. You can streamline this process by utilizing PDFs to convey information back and forth. Try a free PDF editor to make changes easily on shared documents so you can skip explanatory emails and intrusive instant messages.

Health And Nutrition

Do you eat lunch every day? Probably not. You should. Give yourself permission to check out from work every day, which the Work It Daily blog explains will help you be more productive. (If you're a strict workaholic, you can use your lunchtime as an opportunity to network.) Further, keep a desk drawer full of handy snacks that can give you energy on those days when you can’t break away on time. UK-based snack food company Veloforte recommends bananas, nuts, watermelons, and berries for boosting energy.

Other Health Tips for Self-Employed People

• Get enough sleep. Your eight hours each night does more than refresh you; it can also reduce weight gain, strengthen your heart, and, like our other suggestions, boost productivity so that you can have a better work and life balance.

• Don’t take things personally. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to learn that business is business and things are not always personal. Losing a customer, for example, does not mean you are not good at what you do, and there are always opportunities to find new clients.

At the end of your work day, you want to know that you’ve done your best as an entrepreneur. But, for that to happen, your workday actually has to end. It’s important to find balance and prioritize self-care, whether that means eating right, getting enough sleep, or seeking therapy when the pressure is too much to bear. By giving yourself the same attention you give your customers and employees, you’ll be a better business person and may be better positioned for strategic growth.

About the Author- Teresa Greenhill

Teresa Greenhill is the co-creator of MentalHealthforSeniors.com, which is dedicated to providing seniors with information on physical and mental fitness. Being a senior herself, Teresa, with some help from her granddaughter, manages the website as a way to keep her busy and help other seniors be active and happy in their golden years.