Self-care is a term that has gained increasing popularity in recent years, especially in the creative industry where entrepreneurs, marketers, and designers are prone to long working hours and high levels of stress. However, just like many other ‘productivity hacks’, this one has also been glamorized for far too long.
Imagine those 5 AM Morning Wake-Ups, b-roll to Meditation, then a cup of Coffee, some affirmations – feels like a dream, right? Well, that’s exactly what it is.
The real truth, however, is that self-care has a different definition for all of us and those early morning wake-up calls or meditation, or affirmations aren’t something that all of us can adapt and benefit from.
Therefore, this concept of self-care seems like an indulgence that is at odds with the goal of productivity. Instead of actually optimizing our lives, we’re trying to focus on a toxic sense of positivity.
While research shows that taking care of yourself can actually improve your productivity and creativity, the real question is – What the heck Self-Care actually means?
In this article, we will explore the role of self-care in achieving productivity, and I will make sure to only provide information that is practical and not glamorized.
The Connection between Self-care & Productivity
To fully get onto the self-care train, we first need to understand how it connects with overall productivity. It may seem counterintuitive, but taking care of yourself can actually improve your productivity.
Research conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) has found that workplace stress leads to decreased productivity and increased absenteeism. The cycle repeats like this for most of us:
- We get a really good job.
- We work longer hours thinking that the extra time equates to more productivity.
- We start burning out as our stress levels increase and our output worsens.
- We feel bad about ourselves and put the blame on ourselves instead of addressing the elephant in the room.
Self-Care, on its own, means that you are caring for yourselves. This doesn’t just mean financially. Of course, with more money, you would feel those short-term bouts of happiness. But for longer-term growth, you need to truly care for yourselves.
If longer hours lead to more stress, why not reduce the time you spend on one task? If a challenging project is taking too much of your brain space, take breaks in between so your mind can reset, instead of worsening the output with a lack of concentration.
Conversely, employees who practice self-care are more productive, engaged, and satisfied with their work. In addition, self-care can improve cognitive function, creativity, and decision-making abilities. By taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being, you can achieve better results and avoid burnout.
Self-care Ideas for Productivity
Let’s get into the actual self-care part now. For starters, you need to not spend hours at a time working. The ideal point is 25-45 minutes of deep work, followed by 15-minute breaks. You also need to make sure that you’re not focusing on one single task for your entire shift.
If you have multiple deliverables for the week, spread them out over 5 days, and every day, aim to achieve little bits of each deliverable. This incremental work will compound over the 5 days and you might achieve your deliverables even before your weekends.
Now, these are just some ways I would suggest someone work on improving their self-care regime. These ideas may work for you or they may not. However, it’s better to get started now instead of wallowing in misery later.
Some other suggestions I have for self-care include getting enough sleep (ideally 8 hours per day), taking breaks throughout the day, practicing mindfulness or meditation, engaging in physical activity, and spending time with loved ones.
It’s important to make self-care a part of your daily routine and find ways to incorporate it into your workday. For example, taking a short walk during your lunch break or practicing deep breathing exercises before a meeting can help you stay calm and focused.
Pro Tip: Start by adapting 2-3 Suggestions for now and focus on being consistent with them for a month. Once you feel ready, add more to your routine. The line between actual self-care and overzealousness is a thin one. TREAD CAREFULLY!
Overcoming Obstacles to Self-care
Even though the benefits of self-care are well-documented, many people still struggle to prioritize it. The reasons for doing this are quite common among most people:
- I don’t have enough time.
- I’m not sure it actually works.
- I don’t know where to start (MOST IMPORTANT)
The Internet is filled with lots of self-care tips and tricks. And a lot of them do work. However, they tend to generalize their routines. In truth, self-care and productivity take on different meanings for everyone and cannot be distilled into one-size-fits-all routines.
Because of this information paralysis, people start feeling guilty that maybe there’s not a lot they can do to fix their bad habits. I want to tell you – That’s just NOT the case!
To overcome these obstacles, it’s important to recognize that self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity for your well-being and productivity. Start small by incorporating one or two self-care practices into your routine and gradually build from there.
I would recommend taking these steps:
- Figure out the problem: Write down what’s actually making you feel stressed out.
- Best possible outcome: How would you like to feel instead of stressed out? Write that down
- Be Mindful of Fads: Just like valuable info, there are a lot of fads on the Internet too.
- Start in Increments: Start with 2-3 Habits and check if you can adapt them in your daily life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, self-care plays an essential role in achieving productivity for creative entrepreneurs. By taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally, you can improve your cognitive function, creativity, and decision-making abilities, ultimately leading to better results and avoiding burnout.
Incorporating self-care into your daily routine doesn’t have to be difficult. Start with small changes such as taking breaks throughout the day, getting enough sleep, or practicing mindfulness. Remember that self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity for your well-being and productivity.
So, take the first step and prioritize self-care today. Share your experiences with self-care with other productive entrepreneurs and help create a culture of self-care in the creative industry.
How have you incorporated self-care into your work routine? Let us know in the comments below!
Zane James is a Digital Marketer who runs a freelance marketing practice alongside growing ProductivePreneur; a free newsletter for Entrepreneurs, Marketers & Designers helping them to reach peak productivity in a realistic and mindful way.