Running a small business has many advantages for entrepreneurs: they enjoy a flexible schedule, set their own financial goals, and get to freely use their inventiveness and creativity. But entrepreneurs are also responsible for keeping up with laws and regulations, accounting, bookkeeping, and other not-so-pleasant tasks for creative minds. That is why self-care is so important for small business owners. Here are a few ways to reclaim your time and take care of yourself, presented below by Icon Refined.

Take Care of Your Body and Mind

If you think you’re too busy to hit the gym or exercise at home, think again: exercising regularly helps improve brain power and get creative juices flowing. Aerobic exercise increases blood flow to the brain, so you’ll be giving both your body and mind a workout. Exercise has also been proven to reduce stress, and this in turn can help you make better business decisions. Reaching fitness goals will help boost your confidence, allowing you to be more assertive with clients and business partners. Participating in regular physical activity has been shown to increase energy levels, thus making you more productive and less fatigued during the day. So make exercise part of your daily routine, be it a stroll around the block, a workout regimen at your local gym, or even a yoga class to release tension and gain more flexibility.

Turn Your House Into a Relaxing Haven

Many small businesses operate from home, and that can create tension in the household. Ideally, you should have a dedicated space for work that will allow you to switch from work mode to family-time mode at the end of the day. If you don’t have a dedicated room for your office, add partitions or even some tall plants to corner yourself off, and invest in office furniture with storage so that you can easily keep your computer, printer, and office supplies out of view.

To help you and your family spend more time relaxing and enjoying each other’s company and less time bickering about small things, make sure your house stays clean, organized, free of clutter, and full of good vibes. Keep flat surfaces such as dressers and credenzas clear save for a precious framed photograph, a cherished decorative object, or a lamp, to make the space feel more peaceful. Remove items that don’t belong in a particular room or that you haven’t used in over a year, and sell or donate anything you don’t want or need any longer. 

Reclaim Your Time by Getting Outside Help

You started your own business because you enjoy what you do and want to share your passion with others. But owning a small business also involves accounting, financing, expense tracking, invoicing, payroll, filing for taxes, and drawing contracts, among many other paperwork-heavy tasks. Fortunately, there are professionals dedicated to helping entrepreneurs like you with these highly-specialized duties. Accountants will help you with funding your business, creating a budget, preparing financial proposals, and of course with your day-to-day bookkeeping.

If you have employees, they can also help you set up payroll. Lawyers will help you establish your business structure and register your company, draw up and review contracts, protect your intellectual property and collect money if a customer refuses to pay you. And if you want or need to hire qualified employees, recruiters will help you put together a detailed job description and find the perfect applicant for your company. 

Self-care is a necessity for busy entrepreneurs to avoid burnout and unnecessary frictions with family members. Take time to exercise, create a relaxing home environment, and don’t hesitate to hire out the help you need to reclaim your time. You’ve earned it.