How to Use Self-Care to Boost Your Business: The Four Pillars You Need to Thrive
Have you ever felt stuck in a creative rut? You know, those moments when you’re trying to come up with fresh ideas for your business, but your brain just doesn’t want to cooperate? I’m curious—what do you do when you hit that mental block?
If you said, “pause for some self-care,” then you’re on the right track. Let me explain why.
Self-care is often seen as a way to take a break from the hustle, but it’s so much more than that. In fact, practicing self-care in all its forms can actually boost your business. It might sound counterintuitive, but hear me out—taking care of yourself isn’t just about feeling good in the moment. It’s about showing up as the best version of yourself so you can give your business and your clients the best of you.
So, let’s dive into the four pillars of self-care—emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual—and how they can elevate your business.
Emotional Self-Care: Embrace Your Feelings to Move Forward
Emotional self-care is about processing, embracing, and nurturing your feelings. Running a business can bring up a lot of emotions—doubts, frustrations, and sometimes even imposter syndrome. You may remember from a previous blog, “How Your Mindset is Keeping You Stuck in Business,” that mindset plays a huge role in business growth. If we don’t tend to our emotions, we risk being held back by negative thoughts and feelings.
I’ll never forget a time when I was in my coaching certification program, feeling frustrated about a wood project I was working on. It didn’t turn out the way I envisioned it, and I was annoyed by the mistakes. But what frustrated me even more was the frustration itself. I didn’t want to feel those negative emotions—I just wanted to get back to the ‘happy place.’
But here’s the thing: research shows that avoiding or suppressing emotions only makes them stronger. A study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that emotional suppression can lead to increased stress and reduced cognitive function. So, instead of ignoring or running from our feelings, we need to feel them, process them, and move forward. This creates emotional clarity and allows us to show up for our business from a place of empowerment, not overwhelm.
Mental Self-Care: Boundaries Are Your Secret Weapon
The mental side of self-care is all about setting boundaries and nourishing your mind. Without boundaries, you might find yourself easily drained or overwhelmed—something that can directly slow down business progress. For home-based business owners, this is especially tricky. When your work and personal life share the same space, the lines between the two can quickly blur. Answering emails during family time, taking client calls after hours, and constantly being ‘on’ can take a toll on your mental energy.
But here’s the truth: setting and maintaining boundaries is essential for sustainable business growth. Boundaries protect your mental energy, keeping your focus sharp and allowing you to be productive when you need to be, and present when you’re not working. Research shows that individuals who set healthy boundaries experience less stress and greater productivity.
When you honor your own boundaries, you create the mental space to make better decisions, foster creativity, and stay aligned with your goals. And in the long run, this strengthens both your personal life and your business.
Physical Self-Care: Recharge Your Body to Fuel Your Business
Physical self-care is just as important as the emotional and mental sides. Without taking care of your body, you’ll quickly find yourself burned out and sluggish. It’s easy to skip meals, stay up too late, or neglect exercise when you’re focused on your business, but your body is your most valuable asset. Taking care of it gives you the energy and stamina to power through your tasks and challenges.
This doesn’t mean you have to commit to a rigorous workout routine or spend hours at the gym. Simple, consistent habits like walking, stretching, or drinking enough water can make a big difference. When you fuel your body with proper nutrition and movement, you’re giving yourself the physical energy needed to run your business at full speed.
Spiritual Self-Care: Stay Grounded in Your Purpose
Spiritual self-care is about connecting to something greater than yourself and finding meaning in your work. Whether it’s through meditation, journaling, prayer, or simply spending time in nature, spiritual practices help you stay grounded and aligned with your purpose.
As entrepreneurs, it’s easy to get lost in the daily grind and forget why we started our businesses in the first place. Spiritual self-care helps us reconnect with our ‘why,’ reminding us of the bigger vision that fuels our passion. Research shows that spiritual practices, such as mindfulness or gratitude, can reduce stress, improve focus, and increase resilience—powerful tools for business growth.
Taking the time for spiritual self-care allows you to lead your business from a place of purpose and intention, not burnout or exhaustion. It helps you navigate the tough moments with clarity and resilience, knowing you’re aligned with what truly matters.
Big Action and Micro Moment Examples
Let’s break it down into practical steps. Here’s how you can implement both big actions and micro moments of spiritual self-care into your day:
Big Action Example: Personal Retreat or Reflection Day Take a half-day or full day for yourself. Go somewhere peaceful, whether that’s outdoors or in a quiet space at home, and use the time for deep reflection. Think about your business goals, your values, and your bigger purpose. Journal about your journey and what’s truly important to you. This personal retreat can help you reconnect with your ‘why’ and return to your work with renewed focus and motivation.
Micro Moment Example: Daily Gratitude Practice Incorporate a quick gratitude practice into your day. Spend just a few minutes each morning or evening writing down one or two things you’re grateful for in your business. It could be as simple as the flexibility your business offers or a recent success. This small habit can shift your mindset and help you stay grounded in the positive aspects of your work, even when the going gets tough.
Self-Care is an Investment in Your Business
When you take time for emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual self-care, you’re not just investing in yourself—you’re investing in your business. These practices help you stay clear, energized, and aligned with your goals. And the best part? They don’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. Small actions, like setting boundaries or practicing gratitude, can make a huge difference in your mindset and your business performance.
So, if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or burned out, remember: self-care is a powerful tool to help you break through those blocks. When you nurture yourself, you’re giving your business the fuel it needs to thrive.
Want to check out the related Youtube video? Watch here: https://youtu.be/sLH-_Yafano