As an entrepreneur, it can be very easy to fall into patterns of overworking. You make your own hours and you want to succeed, so why wouldn’t you just work all the time? The answer is simple: it’s not good for you. And if you’re not good, your business won’t be either.

When I talk to my clients about self-care, I’m not referring to spa days. Getting your lashes done might feel good, but it doesn’t prevent burnout. The most important self-care includes routine basics like eating, exercising, socializing, resting, and sleeping. Do you skip any of these when you’re stressed? When you make them routine, they become more automatic, and it becomes a lot easier to continue them no matter what’s going on.

Boundaries Before Bedtime

My evening routine begins even before the end of my workday. When you own your own business, there is always more to do: bookkeeping, accounting, advertising, analyzing, managing, ordering, decision-making, and endless communication. If you want to maintain an evening routine, you need to have good boundaries with your work.

Set a realistic time to stop working and keep work emails and calls off your personal cell phone. That second part can be tricky, but there are workarounds. If you need to keep work emails on your phone, turn off notifications at the end of your workday. If you need to accept calls, try setting up a Google Voice line just for work and turning on Do Not Disturb before you sign off for the day.

After all, are you really listening to your kids or catching up on the latest Housewives drama, if your notifications keep going off?

Transitioning from Work to Home

Once I set boundaries with work, I reset with a small transition between the end of my workday and the start of my personal time. This can be as simple as taking a deep breath after shutting down your computer. For me, it’s a 30-minute walk with my partner.

Entrepreneurs love to multitask, and this walk checks so many self-care boxes: social connection, breathing in nature, physical movement, and space for a mindset shift. Check, check, check, and check. It’s a powerful signal to your brain and body that you’re no longer working and can be present for other parts of your life.

Gentle Movement and Rest

The walk leads me seamlessly into some gentle stretching. Rest is not just watching trashy TV or taking a bubble bath, though it can include those! It can also be releasing the tension in your muscles after a stressful, sedentary day. It might be a five-minute meditation, listening to your chill vibes playlist, or sipping a hot cup of tea. Quality rest helps you recharge and reset.

Dinner Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy

Once I’ve exercised, socialized, and rested, it’s time for dinner. To ensure I eat dinner every evening, I stay flexible and open to what I have time and energy for.

Did you grow up believing that cereal is only for breakfast? It’s actually the easiest dinner when you don’t have the energy to channel your inner gourmet chef. You might prefer a well-balanced meal, but is that realistic every day? Any meal is better than no meal.

However, if your challenge is overeating or not getting the nutrients you need, try slowing down and eating more mindfully. Taste each bite. Don’t eat in front of the TV. You can also enhance a quick meal like cereal by adding nutrients—I like to throw in chia seeds or unsalted nuts.

Sleep: Your Non-Negotiable

For most entrepreneurs, sleep is the first essential sacrificed to the gods of success. You tell yourself that if you just stay up a little later or wake up a little earlier, you can get everything done. Or maybe sleep eludes you because you’re stressed—your thoughts racing, your heart pounding, like you could literally run from your problems.

I struggle to focus at work and at home when I don’t get the sleep I need. I’m more productive when I do. That’s why I set firm work boundaries and dedicate an hour to my bedtime routine, creating a pleasant ritual that helps prepare my body for rest. I dim the lights, handle personal care like brushing my teeth, and read in a comfy chair outside my bedroom.

The boundaries that I set with work help me to dedicate an hour to my bedtime routine, giving me a pleasant ritual of unwinding to prepare my body for quality sleep. My bedroom is a sanctuary, a space reserved only for sleep. This allows my brain to associate that space with rest, and nothing else. Ultimately, I invest time in both sleeping and preparing to sleep because it improves how I feel and function throughout the day. You can either sacrifice your sleep and your functioning, or you can invest in your sleep and gain quality of life and efficiency.

Keep It Simple

The best routine is a sustainable one. That’s why every ritual in my evening routine is simple. I know many complex coping skills and exercises for personal growth, but the goal of this routine is not growth. The goal is care.

Treat yourself as the beautiful human you are, deserving of everything you give everyone else and more. If you’re looking to establish a new routine, start small. Set measurable goals. Ask yourself: What do I need? Then think of one small way you can start meeting that need.

And if you have trouble getting started, staying committed, or meeting your basic needs? You don’t have to do it alone. Invest in yourself—and your business—by working with a therapist who specializes in self-care and boundaries.

 

Key Takeaways

  • At a minimum, we need a solid foundation of basic needs to prevent burnout.

  • Strong work boundaries make it easier to maintain routines that include exercise, social connection, eating, rest, and sleep.

  • Your routine doesn’t have to look like mine, it just has to work for you.

  • Set yourself up for success by keeping your self-care simple and sustainable.

  • One last thing: are you drinking enough water?