Introduction

You can’t give what you don’t have, if you don’t take care of yourself first, there will be nothing left to give. The most successful entrepreneurs are those who are constantly working on themselves and their personal development through Self Care. They learn that running a successful business is more than knowing business strategies and requires taking care of your overall wellbeing. I always say that the greatest asset a small business has is the owner.

It is a great responsibility to lead a team, manage a business, nurture your family, and grow your faith at the same time. It takes fortitude and determination to have it all and do it all successfully, but it is possible.

The beauty of this equation is that self-care is not just physical needs, massage and rest. Self-care is more comprehensive including emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.

You must maintain balance in all areas of your life.

Nobody can do it for you; only you can be conscious enough to do it for yourself.

Self care is more than manicures.

Many women think self-care is just about getting your hair and nails done, but it goes beyond beautification. Self-care includes:

1. Mindfulness: Being aware of how others affect us can help us create boundaries so we don’t take on more than we can handle.
2. Spirituality: Our souls need nurturing as well as our bodies — find time to commune with nature, an entity greater than yourself, or meditate/pray daily for peace of mind and clarity on our purpose in life.

Why Self care looks ridiculous to first generation entrepreneurs

I want to talk specifically to first-generation entrepreneurs because I feel like there is a lot of pressure and a lot of strain on us as first-generation entrepreneurs. Parents and families who do not understand the entrepreneurial spirit, often don’t understand the sacrifices that we make the choices that we make.

They don’t understand why you can’t come right away when they call you or why you can’t just stay at the job that’s paying you well, even though it’s making you miserable, but it’s providing for your family.

This isn’t a conversation about others.

This is about YOU.

I also want to talk about self-care as an entrepreneur and how we take care of ourselves. How we maintain our mental, physical and spiritual health in the midst of

• building businesses
• taking care of clients
• taking care of friends and family.

What self care is really about

First Generation Entrepreneurs are the pioneers and trailblazers within their families. Everyone around them may be doing things a certain way because that’s just how it’s been done but first-gen entrepreneurs have a way of thinking outside of the box.

This is great because it means they can go where no one has gone before but this can also become exhausting, overwhelming, and even dangerous. Without support and encouragement, 1GenEnt can easily feel like they’re going at it alone.

1. Self love includes being intentional with your time and not giving yourself away to everyone and everything.
2. It’s enforcing your boundaries learning how to say no, or changing your mind if you’ve agreed to take on too much.
3. It’s making the decision to put yourself first with every little decision you make during the day.
4. Does this conversation, friendship serve you? Does this work nourish your soul?
5. It’s being intentional about what you consume emotionally, what you feed your mind what friendships you put energy into, and even what you watch on tv and social media.

7 ways first generation entrepreneurs can Practice Self Care

Remember that self-care is different for everyone and it can change depending on where we are in our lives. Since it’s not an area we were conditioned to do growing up as daughters of immigrants, it requires practice. Our brains and bodies thrive on repetition when we want to develop a new habit. So try to do self-care DAILY. It may look like watching a movie alone at home instead of going out with friends because you need a night of rest. Sometimes self-care means taking an extra long bath or stay-cationing by yourself, while other times it means spending time with those who love us most. Self-care is exploring what works best for you to recharge and feel good!

Here are 7 ways first-generation entrepreneurs can care for themselves so they can keep leading the way:

1. Stop comparing yourself to anyone else; you’re on your own path with your own unique gifts and experiences. This isn’t about being better than anyone else or even being better than you were yesterday. It’s about being 1% better every day than you were yesterday.

2. Practice regular mindfulness to ensure you’re tuned into what’s going on inside of you; this helps to detect when feelings of overwhelm, fatigue, or burnout are creeping in so that you can take action before they get too severe.

3. Create a morning routine that works for you; a consistent morning routine where you connect with yourself first before jumping into the routine of getting ready for work helps you mentally prepare your mind and body for the day

4. Make time for yourself: Schedule time away from working on your business. Take a walk, read that book you’ve been wanting to finish, get that massage you’ve been saying you need, take that online class you’ve been thinking about taking— practice choosing yourself and taking care of yourself so you can take care of your business!

5. Practice asking for help: We have to acknowledge that we can’t do everything ourselves. Doing so costs you your well-being and prolongs the completion of tasks, making your to-do list grow and grow. So ask…

6. Surround yourself with people who lift you up.

7. Celebrate your wins with loved ones. As perfectionists, we were conditioned to only be rewarded when we accomplish a visible end result. But what about all the work, steps, and tasks that led up to getting that end goal? Celebrate completing those sub-tasks that got you one step closer to the final end result. Your brain loves small wins! Mini celebrations release reward hormones in your brain, which then encourage you to do things again with less procrastination and self-doubt.

Conclusion

Self-care is a great way to practice self-love. Taking care of yourself is necessary for the long game. When was the last time you took a vacation? When was the last time you gave yourself a day off to rest, regroup and plan?? How do you give yourself permission to relax and enjoy life? In this Valentine’s spirit, I want to offer you permission to practice self-love.