Women own more than 12 million businesses in the United States. If you are one of these women, or plan to join the ranks but have experienced financial issues in the past, your nerves are likely causing you to take pause with your plans. It doesn’t have to be this way. Prioritize yourself now so that you will be a better entrepreneur moving forward. A few key decisions in the beginning coupled with attention to self-care will help you get started on the right foot.
Today, I cover a few crucial components of getting yourself and your business on track.
Business First
Part of putting yourself first is making decisions about your business that help you relax. A few of these include hiring the right people, establishing your business structure, and knowing the competition.
Having a team in place is one of the first steps you should make when building your business. Look for employees that complement your weaknesses and that are willing and determined to help you succeed. Avoid the temptation to hire your friends or family, and don’t make a job offer based on experience alone.
Next, get your business structure settled early on. As a fledgling entrepreneur, registering as a business provides legitimacy and possibly even some padding against financial losses. It’s also relatively stress-free to register online (as long as you follow the local regulations in your state) and won’t cost you an arm and a leg if you use a formation service instead of a lawyer.
Another crucial move: performing a competitive analysis. Getting acquainted with the competition puts you in a better position to stand out. BigCommerce contributor Beatriz Estay asserts that doing your research here will give you a leg up by finding market gaps that need to be filled.
Are you running an at-home business? If so, it’s not ideal to be working from your couch or kitchen. If your current space doesn’t have room for a home office, it may be time for a move. For more spacious accommodations, you may need to expand your search to the suburbs. For example, the city of Stamford is about an hour away from NYC by train, and there are a variety of apartments available. Many Stamford rentals even include panoramic views and in-building fitness facilities.
You First
Once you get a few strategies in place to start and grow your business, you can relax a bit. Your mental health plays a big role in how effective you are at work, so it makes sense to take care of yourself. More importantly, to get into the habit of taking care of yourself. You have children, a job, and other responsibilities, this does pose a challenge, but you can’t afford to neglect yourself now.
A great place to begin: yoga classes. Whether online or in-person, yoga causes you to stop and think about how you feel. It’s also a great workout and something you can do with friends. Exercising in any social environment not only provides companionship, but the friends you work out with will motivate you to step your routine up a notch, according to NBC News.
You will also want to elevate your diet. Remember, everything you put into your body fuels you personally and professionally. If you have yet to master your kitchen, it’s time to learn how to cook. Don’t like vegetables? Read about the health benefits of produce, and then try something new each week. The point here is to give your body whole and healthy foods that boost you physically and mentally. If it is made with ingredients you can’t pronounce, leave it alone.
Finally, leave the kids with your partner and take a day for yourself every once in a while. Everyone needs room to breathe, and having even a few hours for a manicure, window shopping, or exercise will help you walk back into your responsibilities re-energized, reinvigorated, and ready to tackle whatever challenges come your way.
When you are a business owner, and especially during a pandemic, you’re going to be stressed. But – you don’t have to let it get to you. By making a few quick business moves and then prioritizing your mental and physical health, you’ll be better at all you do, and your business will be better for it.
Holistic pharmacist Dr. Marina Buksov offers noninvasive and natural methods for healing the spirit, body, and mind. Complete this form to schedule a consultation!
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