The Only Self-Care Practices You Need To Take Your Career To The Next Level

1. Take time off.

I'm not talking about a vacation—though I highly recommend those, too—I'm talking about something that you can literally schedule into every week. When I found myself waking up at 4 a.m. to write out marketing strategies, redesign the website, or work on an idea for an essay or another book, I realized I was operating at a pace that was unsustainable.
So I decided that I would take Fridays off for a month. I allowed myself to work as hard as I wanted during the other four days of the week, but I gave myself permission to take that last day off. At first, this felt counterintuitive. But what I found was that by only working four days a week, I was more productive and had more energy and brain power to do things well.

2. Commit to some sort of physical activity every day.

Whether that's a walk around the neighborhood, a bike ride, a yoga or spin class, or simply setting a timer on your phone to remind you to get up from your chair every hour, commit to it. Do something every day that gets you away from your desk or computer and gets your body moving.

3. Meditate or simply take a few minutes for quiet time.

Go to a quiet place and close your eyes. Take a few minutes to let your mind relax. I bring my attention to my breath because it's something I can focus on, and then my brain doesn't have the space to wander. Of course, if it does, I just bring my awareness back to my breath.

4. Stop comparing yourself to everyone around you.

By comparing, all you're doing is forcing yourself to live up to someone else's ideal again. So your friend brags that she puts 80-plus hours a week into her business; who cares? That isn't about you. If you can run a successful business that makes you happy and you can run it in three hours a week, accept that. Don't get caught up in the idea that more is better. Accept the fact that you know better. That you are the only one who knows what's best for you and your company. That's why you went out on your own in the first place. Keep trusting that fact.

5. Recognize that self-care is a necessary part of the business.

By taking care of yourself, your mind, and your body, you will take care of your business. Because when it comes down to it, you are your business. You are a part of the entire package. When budgeting, you have to take every aspect of your business into consideration, and you are now a part of that equation. Your self-care has to be considered in the overall budget.
By practicing these five things, I can honestly say that I've never felt so accomplished in my life. So, to all my fellow girl bosses out there, here's to us slowing down and taking some time for self-care.