It’s hard to care for others if you aren’t taking care of yourself. As a business owner, it’s important to practice self-care in your own life to encourage your employees and clients to follow suit. Implementing self-care and positive lifestyle changes can improve productivity in the office and support improved mental health overall. It can be tempting to sweep healthy habits aside when things get busy, but making time for yourself will pay off in the long run.
Self-care will enable you to be the best version of yourself for the people in your life and empower your employees, prospects, and clients to do the same. In this blog post, we’ll cover …
Why is Self-Care Important?
Think about the world we live in today. Over the last few years, we’ve experienced a global pandemic, political tensions, skyrocketing inflation, and an out-of-control housing market that have left many of us with overwhelming stress. If you don’t take some time to evaluate your own needs and take care of yourself, it’s easy to spiral and lose motivation in both your personal and professional life.
Your employees and clients already have so much going on in their own lives; the last thing you need is for work to be another stressor. 70% of adults said stress interfered with their work and reported that workplace stress affects their relationships. 25% of people in a recent National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health survey said they view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives.
With those stats in mind, it’s important to practice self-care as a relief from work. A Vagaro survey found that Americans cited experiencing benefits such as enhanced self-confidence (64%), increased productivity (67%), and happiness (71%) when prioritizing self-care.(3) It also results in physical health benefits like reducing the chances of developing heart disease, stroke, and cancer. On the flip side, not engaging in self-care can result in burnout, depression, anxiety, resentment, and worse.
Self-Care in the Workplace
So, what can be done to preserve everyone’s sanity and keep mental health a top priority? Some solutions are tangible, while some are a little broader. In the workplace, there are several practices you can enact to help your employees and clients feel safe, respected, and cared for on the job. The culture of working 80-hour weeks and constantly demanding more from your workers is dangerous and quickly going out of style. In most instances, people are working to live, not living to work. They have families and live outside the office, so that such long weeks could be detrimental to their mental health. Consider dialing back the pressure by hiring another employee to help take on excess workload or adjust your expectations and deadlines to ensure your employees have the necessary bandwidth and support.
Self-care is essential to your clients and employees, but sometimes the care needs to come from you as the business owner! Incentives like allowing hybrid work, offering half-days on Fridays, and being flexible with PTO requests are things your employees have no control over, but that could tremendously improve their well-being. You may initially think these measures could harm your business or decrease productivity. Still, a recent study showed that employees know they’re not at their best when stressed. The survey showed that 41% said it made them less productive, 33% said it made them less engaged, 15% admitted to looking for a new job because of stress, and 14% said it made them absent more frequently.(4) You can’t afford NOT to take care of your employees.
Don’t overlook the countless possibilities to extend beneficial self-care to your clients! They represent a valuable part of your process and can also benefit from a self-care routine. Initiatives like randomly sending self-care promotional items and notes to clients and letting them know you are thinking of them can go a long way. Encourage self-care for your clients to show them you value their partnership and recognize their hard work. When people feel like they are being stewarded with fairness and compassion, they are more inclined to put forth a total effort for the company and do the best job possible at work.
What Does Self-Care Look?
Self-care can look different from person to person. For one person, it may be a trip to the spa; for someone else, it could be a day on the golf course or an evening to catch up on their favorite tv show. In many instances, promotional products can even contribute to self-care. Lotions, massagers, and robes can provide the at-home spa feel that may be just what they need to feel refreshed and ready to tackle the week. Products like yoga mats and push-up grips can encourage physical fitness, another essential component of self-care routines. Travel items like bags and portable speakers can encourage your employees and clients to take that much-needed weekend getaway.
Whatever self-care looks like for you, it’s essential to prioritize your mental health and well-being. Employees and clients must be given space to do that in a work environment. Business owners will be at their best when you’re at your best!
The Takeaway
Nobody runs at optimal performance when they’re bogged down by work and the stresses of life with no relief. Establishing a self-care routine is vital for your sanity and effectiveness in the workplace, but providing the space for your employees and clients to do the same is paramount. So, take that mental health day, treat yourself to that massage, have that extra scoop of ice cream, or whatever else self-care entails! Contact us today to set up a call with a dedicated team member and learn more about how we can help you take care of yourself, your employees, and your clients.