Whether you’ve been the boss of your own business for a few weeks or several years, you’ve already learned just how daunting it can all be. Sure, it’s liberating to be your own boss, earn a living, and develop a business in an area you love, but it’s not without some negatives. In order for your venture to be successful, you often have to invest a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. Which means you have very little time or energy to tend to your needs.

Waking up at 6 am and going to bed at midnight as you grind to keep your business afloat may seem like normal practices, but if you’re not caring for yourself at the same time, eventually, you’ll burn out. Though anything worth having requires significant investment, neglecting the importance of investing in your own health and well-being can cause you to lose it all.

So, how does an entrepreneur with so much on their plates take care of themselves? Here are some suggestions below:

Create a Morning Routine

You can start by dedicating the beginning of each day to yourself. Before the kids wake up, before you check an email, and even before you start completing household chores, just take this time for you.

Wake up and do a few yoga stretches. Sit in a quiet room and meditate for a few minutes. Read an inspiring or entertaining book. Enjoy a fresh cup of coffee or tea. Eat a light but nutritious breakfast. Then, take a shower. However, instead of hopping in and out of the shower quickly, take your time. Choose a soothing fragrant shower gel, turn the water to a nice warm temperature, massage yourself with a loofah or washcloth, gently wash your hair, and then, hop out and give yourself a rub down with massaging oil.

Now that you’ve made the first part of the day about you and your personal needs, you are better equipped to be there for your family and to handle business.

Take time to focus on yourself

It is a great time for women entrepreneurs to prioritize their well-being, such as getting enough sleep, practicing self-care, engaging in activities that make them happy, as well as refocusing and re-energizing. Also, this can be an ideal time for exploring creative ways to relax and express yourself, like taking a bath, reading, listening to music, stretching, or even watching adult videos (available on sites like Tube v Sex) to indulge in self-pleasure like masturbation.

Schedule a Break

Working from sun up to sun down on your business is physically and mentally taxing. You need to take breaks throughout the day so you don’t overwork yourself. Just if you were working for an employer, you’d be entitled to a 30-minute or hour lunch and 1-2, 15-minute breaks, the same should be done as an entrepreneur.

Schedule at least 30 minutes for lunch. During this time don’t concentrate on the business at all, but instead, enjoy your meal, read a book, listen to some music, or contact a friend or relative and chat for a while. This frees your mind of work allowing you the mental space you need to get through the rest of the day.

Get Out and Socialize

For female entrepreneurs who work from home, loneliness can weigh heavily on your emotional well-being. Not to mention, since you don’t have to commute to work, chances are you spend most of your time in the house. Too much time indoors reduces your vitamin D levels and can increase your risk of becoming depressed.

Do yourself a favor and get out and socialize. Try to spend at least 10 minutes outside in nature every day and communicate with others in the area. Stop at a local coffee shop and talk with other women you find there. Head to the dog park and spark up a conversation with other pet lovers. Or, join a gym and make friends in popular classes.

Take a Vacation

It’s true that you don’t have the advantage of paid time off when you’re an entrepreneur, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to take a long break. Whether it’s once a year, bi-annually, or every other month, you need to plan a vacation. It can be a calming staycation, family trip, or an international exotic excursion as long as you’re not working. You can even hire a private jet from the likes of Jettly for yourself (and your loved ones, maybe) and take a trip to all the beautiful islands you’ve ever wanted to visit.

So you’re not working while on vacation you should notify clients you’ll be away, automate any processes that you can, and consider outsourcing or hiring someone to pitch in for a few days. If necessary, unplug during your vacation and only check your phone or emails in emergencies. The point is to take time for you doing things you enjoy and as much as you may enjoy your business all work and no play never has a positive outcome.

It takes a lot to start and operate a business. The fact that you’ve made it this far is worth an applause. Be that as it may, sacrificing too much for the sake of professional success could backfire in a huge way. All too often, female entrepreneurs throw themselves into their dreams and end up burned out in just a few short years because they neglected to prioritize their health. You can ensure this doesn’t happen to you by learning how to make self-care practices a part of your daily life.