When you’re new to business, maybe starting out as a small enterprise or sole trader it’s easy to not appreciate your biggest asset.

You may have put in the effort, have the necessary qualifications, agreed the finance, secured premises, devised a great offering, but have you overlooked the biggest contributor to your future success? That it’s you who are the most important resource in your business.

At the outset you’ll have ample enthusiasm, determination, knowledge and dedication. But those attributes will only take you so far. Over time setbacks, a lack of income, recognition and success can dilute your commitment. How you respond to those obstacles and how well you care for yourself, your health and wellbeing is a significant factor in your resilience and ultimate business longevity.

As a woman in business this can be an especially tough negotiation, as responsibility for home, childcare and domestic arrangements are often a serious consideration too, even if they’re delegated to cleaners, parents and online delivery services.

Recent published research reveals that approximately 60% of new UK businesses fail within their first three years whilst the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows only 42.5% still trading in their fifth year.

With a high percentage of businesses regularly closing down there’s a definite requirement for good habits from the outset to help you maintain a positive approach. Self-care includes protecting both your physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Here are a few straightforward steps to support better self-care and improve your health and work-life balance.

Starting a new job or working in your own business is an exciting and optimistic time, motivated to do a good job, establish a reputation for excellence and demonstrate a readiness to work long and hard, often initially for little reward. At the outset, self-care can seem an out of reach luxury, gradually eroding the joy in what you’re doing, ultimately becoming stressed, overtired and unwell.

Avoid life becoming a relentless slog by using solutions and remedies to keep you positive. Are there ways you could sometimes work from home or introduce flexible hours to ease the load? When you’re more in control, problems become less insurmountable and solutions appear more readily accessible.

Thinking about the service you provide and your customer’s experience is crucial when nurturing and treating those relationships well. Often people say they don’t read emails, reply to texts and delete incoming calls. But how do they share information, keep in touch, learn what’s going on?

Sure, it takes time to read and reply to messages, but being successful in business is about relationships and taking time to communicate effectively with each other. A loyal, respectful relationship can sustain you through tough times. And remember, it works both ways. Few things are more frustrating than waiting for a reply that never comes!

Supporting good physical health is crucial, with a regular diet of healthy food cooked from scratch, perhaps batch-cooked at weekends, rather than take-aways and pre-chilled supermarket dinners. Try to take even a short break for lunch and include some time outside, even if it’s ‘just’ a walk in the park. Good self-care includes quality time with family.

Winding down each evening helps support your wellbeing. Treat sleep as important and maintain a good sleep routine, with a regular cut-off point, unless there’s an urgent or emergency situation. Try to avoid working all hours.  Add it to your commitment to yourself. Maybe listen to music, spend time in nature, do some stretching or yoga (YouTube can help), turn off your tech devices for an hour or two pre-bed as the day comes to a close.

Good mental health needs a little planning too. Taking a short break from work every couple of hours allows you to switch off, have a drink of water, a piece of fruit and maybe enjoy light conversation with co-workers. You’ll feel better upon your return.

Plan some fun time with family or friends. Board games, walks, football, rounders or sports, bike rides, picnics, barbecues where everyone contributes some food or drink can be inexpensive yet fun ways of taking time out from work-related duties whilst enjoying positive time with the people in your life. It’s always good to have some fun times planned.

Personal me time can be therapeutic too. Spending time alone to read a good book, have a quiet run, walk or hike, enjoy a few hours fishing can all be life-enhancing ways to recharge your batteries.

Remember, when you’re well, are feeling good and happy with life everyone in your orbit benefits from your mood, energy and positivity. Good self-care is hugely important, not just for yourself and your business, but also for your relationships with others and your general quality of daily life

Susan Leigh, Lifestyle Therapy

Susan Leigh MNCH (ACC)

South Manchester counsellor, hypnotherapist, relationship counsellor, writer and media contributor offers help with relationship issues, stress management, assertiveness and confidence. She works with individual clients, couples and provides corporate workshops and support.

She’s author of 3 books, ‘Dealing with Stress, Managing its Impact’, ‘101 Days of Inspiration #tipoftheday’ and ‘Dealing with Death, Coping with the Pain’, all on Amazon and with easy to read sections, tips and ideas to help you feel more positive about your life.

To order a copy or for more information, articles, or to make contact please call 0161 928 7880 or visit www.lifestyletherapy.net