Looking after your mental wellbeing – top tips for small business owners

Self-compassion involves directing warmth, care and kindness inwards and talking to ourselves as we would to a good friend. It allows us to break from the tyranny of perfectionism and know that we are enough, even when everything is not running exactly as we would like. When we replace harsh self-criticism with self-compassion it has profound effects.

You can discover more on self-compassion and explore guided practices here.

Research shows that sleep, movement and nutrition can all have major impacts on our mental health. Self-care actions may be as simple as making sure you stop for a lunch break, taking time out for a daily walk or getting to bed at a good hour.

Learn more about sleep, nutrition and movement or register for Mindarma’s upcoming webinar on how to eat get a good night’s sleep.

What are the things that bring you back to feeling more like yourself? What boosts you physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually? Whether it’s getting back on that neglected bike, playing an instrument or having a laugh with a good friend, make it non-negotiable. If we are all business all the time, we will eventually run flat.

Gain some joyful inspiration here.

Overloaded with responsibilities? Anything you can take off your plate is a valuable act of self-care. Consider if there are tasks you can outsource, delegate or do less of. Rather than immediately saying ‘yes’ to every request, practise pausing to consider your own needs. Remember, not everything needs to be perfect. Sometimes just getting it done is a worthy goal.

If you can’t stop thinking about work, mindfulness can help. By learning mindfulness, we can change the way we interact with our thoughts, become more present and give you the space to respond calmly under pressure. Importantly, it can reduce your stress and improve your mental and physical health.

To gain more practical guidance on taking care of your mental health, register here for Mindarma—an evidence-based e-learning program proven to protect mental health.

As one of our key Mental Health and Wellbeing Program partners, Mindarma can provide you with valuable insights, skills and strategies over ten short interactive sessions (each around 15 minutes), and it’s free to South Australian small businesses.