Three focuses of my blog are Money/Financial Literacy, Business/Entrepreneurship and Health/Wellness. Being an entrepreneur can be as taxing as being and employee and in some instances more so. Thus it’s critical to understand how to create a proper balance. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Enjoy Your Off-Time As An Entrepreneur.
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The life of an entrepreneur is busy; you will often find yourself busy with one activity or the other. This is valid, as your goal is to ensure your business thrives and outshines your competitors while making good money. But the problem comes when you can’t take a break. Constantly staying busy without rest can affect your health, which is the last thing you want as a business owner. Moreover, you may not be in the right state of mind to make the best decisions for your company. This is why you must find time to recuperate and unwind. Here is how you can make the most out of your off-time.
1. Connect with nature by hiking
Hiking is a great way for anyone to destress and for good reasons. Making your way on that hiking trail can encourage your body to release high levels of endorphins, allowing you to expel the negative feelings that have been pent up for a long time. Moreover, they reduce cortisol, allowing your body to relax. If you seek peace of mind and clarity to assess your business performance clearly, then hiking is what you need. Undoubtedly, you will walk in areas with many trees and greenery, which helps your mind focus. Did you also know that you can learn entrepreneurial lessons from this activity?
For instance, you will eventually get to rough terrains that can strike fear in people. This is no different from the business landscape, where uncertainties can cause you to worry about your business’s success. But hikers have no room for fear; with carefully calculated steps, they move on until they hit their goals. Likewise, you keep pushing in your entrepreneurial endeavors, making strategic decisions to keep your business afloat. Here are other lessons you can learn as you go on your hiking adventure.
2. Feel the water on your body (swimming)
A few things beat the sensation of water on your body as you engage in some swimming laps. But you also don’t want to forget about the mental benefits this activity can offer you. For starters, with your mind focused on the water, its fluid movements, and relaxing sounds, you can take your mind off business matters that increase your stress and anxiety. This encourages your body to release pent-up tension, allowing your muscles to relax. Like hiking, you can also pick a lesson or two from swimming. For instance, you need to know your strengths and limitations so you don’t drown; the same is true for business. Knowing where your brand thrives can help you become an authority figure, and assessing your weaknesses can prevent you from taking steps that would sink your establishment. You can choose to swim in the pool, sea, river, or any body of water that tickles your fancy.
3. Embrace adventure through kayaking
You may have tried swimming and want an adventure. In this case, kayaking may be what you need. This activity is excellent for giving your brain a good workout; your hippocampus becomes active when paddling. This area is what allows you to learn, think, and memorize. Aside from this, blood flow to your brain is further enhanced, stimulating new cells. This is good news for you as an entrepreneur; you can become more innovative and think of new ideas that will propel your brand forward. You also don’t want to forget how good you feel after a good workout; the feel-good hormones can help you destress, so keep this in mind. Before going on your adventure, know what gear you need to enhance your safety and heighten the experience. For starters, choosing a sit in kayak can be a good decision if you are new to this activity. Not only does it offer protection from the water and sun, but it also provides enough control to prevent you from wobbling. While at it, get a flotation device, safety gear, spray skirt, and other safety items.
Be one with yourself by practicing yoga
Sometimes, you only need to sit down, meditate, and connect to yourself. And what better way to do this than by practicing yoga? The urge may be to hurry and do something, robbing you of relaxation. With yoga, you can build the discipline to know when to stop and relax. This way, you can escape burnout, so feel free to consider this.
Entrepreneurship can be exciting, but it can prevent you from making time for yourself. Therefore, you have to make a conscious effort to take some time off work. The activities discussed above can make your free period worthwhile.
