How to Unplug this Summer
Summer has finally rolled around; the kids are on their six-week holiday and the British rain has set in. However, as a small business owner, the pressures of running your business and the needs of clients don’t suddenly stop. So, how do you strike that balance between taking some time for yourself and your family to recharge your batteries and maintaining business as usual for your clients?
We’ve come up with some top tips on how to take a little bit of time away from your business to get maximum relaxation rewards. It’s your key to making this a great summer!
1. Sign up for an exercise class – exercise releases endorphins which make you happy. It gives you vital time away from a ringing phone and computer screens. They tend to last an hour so are easy to fit into your working day. And so many gyms or sports centres let you pay as you go, so there is total flexibility should something important come up at work.
2. Stretch – 10 minutes of yoga style stretching in the morning and evening help you relieve tension and refresh your body, and its calming effects will help you face the day productively and help you wind down so you get the best night’s sleep possible.
3. Bake – switch off completely by following someone else’s instructions and partake in a little baking ahead of the much-anticipated return of Great British Bake Off. Let your mind wander as you mix and knead or join in with the kids decorating and icing cakes – they’re not the only ones to like a jellytot you know! At the end of the activity you’ll realise you’ve worked a different part of the brain, allowing you to switch off with a brew and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
4. Craft with the kids – there’s nothing like working with glue and glitter to stop you looking at your phone! Although we can’t promise this will help with stress levels! 😊
5. Mindfulness and meditation – when it all gets too much, simply step away. Take yourself into a cool, dark room, sit comfortably, close your eyes and think about…nothing! Just five minutes will regulate your breathing and your heart rate, it’s the reason children’s TV was invented.
6. Revisit a hobby – before the stresses of owning your own business or having a family took over, what hobbies did you have? Flower arranging? Sewing? Get back into it. Or take up something you’ve always wanted to try. The brain makes fresh connections when it is learning something new, which is great for cognitive health.
7. Walk the dog – fresh air and exercise are amazing for helping inspiration to strike. No dog, just down tools and pound the pavement yourself for 20 minutes. You’ll be amazed at how much more productive you’ll be.
8. Do a HITT session – short on time? HITT sessions take around 15 minutes to complete and can be done anywhere. There’s no excuse not to get the blood pumping and release some cathartic energy.
9. Plan a day trip – a complete day away from the office, sans phone, and during the working week. Whether it’s a spa trip or a visit to the zoo with the kids, just make sure you switch off from work and are completely present in the moment.
10. Set a technology curfew – come 6pm the phone goes in a drawer, the laptop is packed away, and you can spend some important down time concentrating on you or your family.
One of the main reasons small business owners take the leap and start their business is the flexibility being your own boss affords. However, there’s no boss that sets tougher objectives and tighter deadlines than us. The most important thing to remember, is that for your business to flourish, you need to take care of yourself. Use this summer as an opportunity to avoid burnout and recharge your batteries.
*BONUS TIP* Outsource – whether it’s a little, a bit more, or a lot!
If the idea of taking some time to yourself and your family this summer seems like an impossible dream, there are people that can help. The Queen Bees for a start! A great way to give yourself a well-earned rest is to know that your business is ticking over while you relax. Outsourcing some of your marketing or social media tasks can give you the respite you need. If this is something you want to find out more about, then please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
In the meantime, have a fabulous summer!