As entrepreneurs, we often get caught up in work mode and forget to make time for fun. It’s completely understandable due the pressures that come with owning our own business but if you plan to be in it to win it, enjoyable down time has to be part of your game plan. Since you own your own business, why not work self-care right into your policies and procedures?
For me this means making a conscious effort to schedule in leisure activities. If I don’t, I tend to default to staying home and as those of you who work from home know, that could mean we don’t leave our office for weeks at a time! Definitely not the fantasy you envisioned when you left that 9-5!
How to make self-care a priority
In order to ensure I get this done, I simply add it in as one of my tasks in my daily planner or project management software. Putting it in the same place where I complete my client and operations work always increases the chances that I’ll do it. Sometimes I even imagine I’m one of my own clients just to further encourage placing a higher value on it.
There may be days when you don’t have time to sit down and plan but if you keep a task on your to do list long enough eventually you find the time to complete it. Give yourself the gift of something other than work to look forward to and as an added bonus you’ll get to cross that shit off your list! I find crossing things off my to do list extremely satisfying so that can be another helpful incentive for you if you enjoy that too.
Out on the field
This weekend felt like a work life balance win for me. We went to see the Giants vs. Red Sox game at Oracle Park. My other half and I had been planning it for weeks. It was bobblehead day with a Sesame Street theme and Elmo was the featured bobblehead. Who doesn’t love Elmo? My inner child was ecstatic.
Before we went, we asked our friends what signature treats are a must try when visiting Oracle. We indulged in Crazy Crab sandwiches, Gilroy Garlic fries and Anchor Steam beer. Ghirardelli hot fudge sundaes made the top of the list of recommendations but we didn’t have enough room left in our very happy bellies to partake. A trip to that San Francisco staple may just have to be one of my next self-care commitments. Whatever helps my business thrive!
The stadium feels like a mini amusement park with a slide for the kids and a giant Coke bottle and baseball glove next to the jumbotron. There are epic views of the city skyline and boats and paddleboards line up along the harbor in hopes of catching a stray home run ball. There’s even a cute little trolley car photo opp, overlooking the bay. A short left field ensures plenty of game balls make it out to the stands and world class baseball is at the center of it all.
I haven’t been to many baseball games in my life but this was by far the best one I’ve ever been to. It was super fun comparing the stadium to my memories of Fenway Park and Citi Field, the only two other major league parks I remember visiting. What parks do you think I should add to my list?
The total benefits package
If you’re looking for new activities to add to your self-care routine, I highly recommend attending a local sporting event. It’s a great way to let loose, blow off some steam and be inspired by incredible athletes showcasing immense dedication and commitment to their craft. There’s also lots of good clean fun for the whole family.
On top of that, getting out of your familiar day to day routine relieves stress and puts you in an open and receptive state. Engaging in activities with the specific intent to “have a good time” signals to your brain to enjoy the moment. It also helps you stay in the moment because you don’t know what’s going to happen next. You are literally re-routing your energy, creating new neural pathways and releasing dopamine (the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure) naturally.
Connecting with the local culture and community in this way can add so much value to our entrepreneurial mission and help us continue making the world a better place. I encourage you to add sporting events to your entertainment roster and begin to adopt your own fun friendly self-care policies too.
Go out and have some fun. Take yourself out to a ball game or some other new activity this week. The benefits are backed by science and you can consider it part of your company’s overall self-care strategy.
What’s your favorite way to self-care? Let me know in the comments!