Self Care Tips for the Self-Employed, Entrepreneur, or Work-from-Home Employee
In a previous post, I shared some tips for how I maintain a work/life balance while working from home. I've now been self-employed for over 6 years now and have some experience in running my business from home. Having that many years under my belt means that I've found some great ways to practice self-care so I can still maintain my creativity. Here, I'll share my top 10 tips for self-care ideas specifically for those of you that work from home or are aspiring to one day be able to work from home.
1. Work from a coffee shop.
This is perhaps the best way I've found to boost my creativity and breathe some life into my work day. Just getting out of your home can have positive impacts on your mood, creativity, and energy.
2. Meet a friend for a lunch date.
Drawing on what I learned from tip 1, I've also switched it up a bit and added in a few lunch dates with friends during my year. This provides the same benefits as tip 1, but with the added advantage of connecting with a good friend.
3. Take the afternoon off.
Sometimes, you can get stuck in a "rut" and it is pointless to continue working without any inspiration. If this happens, it is so important to know when to step away. Just giving yourself the afternoon (or morning) off can provide you with the boost you need to be extra productive the next day.
4. Create a home "library.
More and more homeowners are now re-purposing their formal dining rooms as the appeal of "dinner parties" has morphed into more friendly gatherings. I personally have made over my formal dining room into a cozy home library featuring bookcases, and comfortable leather sofa, and fun artwork. If you don't have an extra room to devote to creating a library, you can still create a cozy library space in an existing room. By adding a comfortable chair, some book shelves and a few "intellectual" knick-knacks, you can create a welcoming
reading nook. Perfect for recharging when you work from home.
5. Watch a funny tv show or part of a movie.
You may not have the time to devote to watching a full movie but just a few minutes of a tv show that makes you laugh can make a world of difference for the rest of the day. I personally recommend Impractical Jokers for a hearty laugh or The Office for a heart-warming chuckle.
6. Do a simple beauty rountine.
This is really open to what feels good to you. It can be as simple as applying a pleasant smelling lotion to moisturize your body. Other ideas are: painting your nails a fun color, a face mask, taking a foot bath, or styling your hair.
7. Spend the day in bed.
This may seem counter-intuitive to being productive but sometimes you just need to get cozy to be able to stay creative and produce quality work.
8. Create a "goals" journal.
This is a great way to boost your creativity and make you feel optimistic about the future. You can choose whether the journal focuses on work goals or personal goals...or both!
9. Add candles to your work space.
This was actually a helpful tip that a fellow Instagram user shared with me. It sounds too simple to make a difference but I gave it a try and am so happy with the results! I now light a few candles and either meditate or read a few pages from a favorite book when I need a break from the daily grind.
10. Do anything that makes you happy!
This one is entirely flexible and can be customized to your exact needs. Walking my dog makes me so happy and is always a great way to spruce up my work day. For you, it can be something as simple as eating a special treat or playing with your child. Just pick something that makes you truly happy and devote the time to really make the most of that experience.
