You might find this hard to believe, but taking a step back and relaxing can actually help your business. As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to get caught up in your challenges and feel like you have to be going all the time.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, your business can probably benefit if you take the time to relax.
How Relaxing Can Help Your Business
First of all, it’s important to understand that relaxing can help your business. Knowing that you can improve your business with the help of relaxation is one way to encourage you to make the time to enjoy yourself a little more.
Research indicates that relaxing can actually make you more productive. Taking naps can improve performance. Taking time to relax helps you sleep better, boosting your productivity and ability to make better decisions. Just taking a break can help you “reset” your mental processes, reducing mental fatigue and boosting creativity.
When you think about the ways that relaxing can benefit your mind and your body, and how that carries over into your ability to run your business, it becomes clear that relaxation isn’t just a nice touch. It’s essential to the wellbeing of you and your company. You’ll be better able to reach your goals if you are willing to take the time to relax.
Even small breaks, like those used for the Pomodoro Technique, can help you increase productivity and maintain focus while you are working on the task at hand.
Tips for Relaxing
Of course, saying that you want time to relax is completely different from actually going through with it. Here are a few tips that can help you improve your ability to relax:
- Start a meditation practice. Realize that you don’t need to spend hours meditating for it to be effective. You can start by meditating as little as five minutes at a time. The important thing is to take a break and be aware of the moment.
- Breathing exercises can help you when you feel stressed and you think you might be losing control.
- Make yourself stop working. Try not to work more than eight to 10 hours a day. It’s better if you can work less, but you might not have that option. Make it a point to stop working. Focus on your priorities first so that when you do stop working, the things that are left for tomorrow aren’t hugely important. If you struggle with quitting, add relaxation to your schedule.
- Spend time with loved ones. This is one of the best ways to relax. You might be surprised at how relaxing it can be to play with your kids, and how helpful it can be to touch those you care about. Make time for hugs and for the important relationships in your life. You’ll be more relaxed and less stressed — and that will apply to your relationships as well as to your work.
- Leave the vicinity of your work. Taking a break from work, and going someplace where you can’t access it for a period of time can be a good way to take your mind off things. If you have to, turn off the electronics so that you can’t be pestered by phone calls or tempted to check your email, even if it’s only for half an hour.
- Enjoy pure entertainment. As an entrepreneur, it’s tempting to think that you always have to be doing something productive that advances your business. This can lead to stress and burnout. Instead, make time to just enjoy pure entertainment. Read a novel instead of a biography. Watch a great sitcom or drama. You don’t want to go overboard, but an hour or so of pure entertainment can help you relax and enjoy life better.
Don’t get caught up in the belief that you have to be working all the time. Make it a point to relax and you’ll be a better person for it, and your business will benefit, too.
