When I was side hustling, I was caught between a rock and a hard place. On one end, I was striving to ensure that I was adequately performing my role at the company I worked for, and on the other end, I was single-handedly building my dream and struggling to build a customer base alive. This meant early mornings, long days, and late nights. Unfortunately, I would lose myself so much in work, that I would forget to take care of myself. One day I’d had simply had enough. After a long cry from the stress and overwhelm ( I had to get it out somehow) I sat down and wrote out what I needed to do to feel rejuvenated and revived. Here’s what I came up with…
Strict No Screen Shut Down For At Least 20 Mins A Day.
That phone, laptop, tablet, tv, etc. Shut it down….and I mean completely off for 20 minutes/day. Do some breathing exercises, meditate, write down feelings, or take a walk. This is time to spend with yourself; To acknowledge that you still exist; That you are human and not a machine.
Sleep on time.
Your health is wealth. The better you sleep, the sharper your brain. The sharper your brain, the better you can perform business tasks. This means it is crucial that you get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. Even if you’re not sleepy, get into your bed, turn the lights off, close your eyes and just breathe. Set the right sleep environment by eliminating screens from your room, setting the right temperature and making your bed comfy.
No negative spaces or people
Negativity adds stress and stress adds anxiety. Watch who you surround yourself with watch what words you absorb, and even how much news you observe. These greatly impact your mood. It’s always important to harbor positive energy that will translate into your work and into the way you relate with clients.
Limit Sugar & Processed Foods
Sometimes we absent-mindedly eat while working. I used to sustain a constant sugar/caffeine high to keep alert and focused. The bad thing about all highs is that once you go up, you’ll come down. There are lows and once your body absorbs the “drug”, you’ll feel low. Endeavor to take care of yourself by eating as clean as possible. This also means hydrating your body and eating foods that nourish the brain. These include blueberries, eggs, coconut oil, walnuts, avocado, and almonds just to name a few.