Wellbeing Tips

Updated: Jun 22

Here's a collection of practical tips and insights to help you look after yourself while you grow your business.

Connection over isolation

Running a business can feel lonely! How can you prioritise connection over isolation to protect your mental health?

Celebrate small wins together
Share your progress, no matter how small, with people who will cheer you on. Recognising wins together boosts confidence and keeps you motivated on tougher days.
Create a support circle
Build a small circle of business friends you can check in with regularly. This could be a WhatsApp group, a monthly coffee, or a co-working day. Having people who “get it” can reduce feelings of overwhelm and give you a safe space to vent, brainstorm, and feel supported.
Share how you're really doing
Instead of always saying “I’m fine” in business spaces, try being a little more honest with trusted peers. Sharing your challenges as well as your wins can be a huge relief and helps normalise the ups and downs of self-employment. You don’t have to overshare, just being real is enough.
Schedule connection, not just work
It’s easy to fill your diary with client work and forget human contact. Add connection into your calendar on purpose (networking events, local meet-ups, or even a weekly virtual coworking session). Treat it as part of your wellbeing routine, not an optional extra.

How can you protect your energy as a small business owner so you can show up fully for your work and your life?

Notice your energy highs and lows
Pay attention to when you feel most focused and when you feel drained. Are you sharper in the morning or afternoon? Do certain tasks leave you exhausted? Once you know your natural rhythm, you can plan your day in a way that supports your wellbeing instead of fighting against it.
Set boundaries around your time
You don’t have to be available 24/7. Create simple boundaries like set working hours, response times, or “no-meeting” blocks. Communicate these clearly to clients so they know what to expect. Protecting your time helps reduce overwhelm and gives you space to rest, reset, and actually enjoy your business.
Build in small recovery moments
Wellbeing doesn’t have to mean big routines or spa days. It can be as simple as a 5-minute walk, a stretch between tasks, a proper lunch away from your screen, or a cup of tea without multitasking. These small pauses help your nervous system reset and make long days feel more manageable.

How can you be kinder to yourself while you’re growing your business and figuring things out?

Allow yourself to be a work in progress
You don’t have to have everything perfect or “sorted” to be a real business owner. Give yourself permission to learn as you go, make mistakes, and try things that don’t always work. Instead of thinking “I should be further ahead” , try “I’m learning and that’s enough for today.”
Give yourself realistic expectations
It’s easy to compare yourself to bigger, more established businesses and then feel like you’re “behind” . Instead, set goals that match your current capacity, time, and resources. Break big tasks into smaller steps and focus on what’s doable this week, not everything you “should” be doing. Realistic expectations reduce pressure and make it easier to keep going.
Talk to yourself like you would a friend
Notice the way you speak to yourself when something goes wrong. Would you say those same words to a friend? If not, soften the tone. Swap “I’m rubbish at this” for “That was hard, but I’m doing my best and I can try again.”

How can you bring more joy and lightness into your business so it feels sustainable, not just “another job”?

Reconnect with your "why"
Take a moment to remember why you started your business in the first place. Was it freedom, creativity, flexibility, helping others, or being rooted in your local community? Write it down and keep it somewhere you’ll see regularly. Reconnecting with you “why” can make everyday tasks feel more meaningful and less like a grind.
Make space for work you actually enjoy
Not every task will be fun, but your whole business shouldn’t feel heavy. Notice which parts you genuinely enjoy - designing, talking to people, problem-solving, planning events, creating content - and intentionally make space for more of that. Where you can, simplify, streamline, or outsource the bits that drain you.
Create small rituals that make work feel good
Build tiny moments of joy into your working day: your favourite playlist, a nice mug of tea, a short walk before you start, lighting a candle, or working from a cafe once a week. These small rituals signal to your brain that work can be enjoyable and comforting, not just stessful.

A healthier you is a wealthier you